Billy Stanlake injury may see Derbyshire go into T20 Blast which just one overseas signing

The Australian fast bowler had to pull out of the 20-over competition through injury, and is the second player after fellow countryman Kane Richardson to withdraw

Derbyshire may go into the Vitality Blast with only one overseas player after Billy Stanlake was forced to pull out because of injury.

It is the second setback for the county this summer after another Australian fast bowler, Kane Richardson, withdrew following his call-up for the World Cup.

Stanlake looked the perfect replacement and Derbyshire were excited at the prospect of the 6ft 6in 24-year-old paceman spearheading the Falcons attack.

But now they are left with the prospect of going into the tournament without a second overseas although head of cricket Dave Houghton is confident the team will still be competitive if that is the case.

"It's disappointing not just for us because I know having spoken to Billy himself he's probably the most disappointed person," Houghton said.

"It's happened to him a couple of times where he's had opportunities to come and play in England but has been pulled back by injury prevention which is pretty much what has happened here.

^{Richardson had to withdraw before the World Cup}

"They've done a routine scan and found something untoward which is the words they used and they've pulled him back so it's very sad for him because he really wanted to play here and sad for us because we would have loved to have seen him play."

Derbyshire have been dogged with bad luck with overseas targets before and last season New Zealand all-rounder Mitchell Santner was ruled out by a knee injury.

"When I came in, I wanted to try and seal that second overseas spot as early as I could, just to get that worry off us because of what has happened in the past, but on both occasions a bit of bad luck has intervened and we've lost them both," Houghton said.

Although Derbyshire have not given up on bringing in a second overseas player, Houghton insists they will not make a signing for the sake of it.

VISIT THE COUNTY HUB

"The quality that we want is diminishing by the day, people are being snapped up and there are other tournaments around the world," he said.

"What I don't want to do is go out and find a person just to pop in when we've probably got players of a similar standard here on our own staff.

"We'll have a look and if the right person comes up we'll have a go but I'm not actively searching at the moment.

"Both Kane and Billy would both have been fantastic second overseas players for this tournament but I look at our side now and even if we didn't get somebody else this is the same team that competed against the same sides in the 50-overs competition.

"So I think we have a decent side and we'll be competitive but if the right person comes up we'll still have a go at it.

"Yes, there's a disappointment Billy's not here but from my side there's also the excitement of our youngsters being given more opportunity."

The Falcons start the Blast a week on Saturday (July 20) with a home game against the Yorkshire Vikings at Queen's Park, Chesterfield.

Courtesy of the ECB reporters network

For more outstanding county coverage, try The Cricketer for three issues free this summer. Click here to sign up today