Chris Green no longer joining Birmingham Bears for T20 Blast

The 26-year-old had been due to return to the club as captain this year but, following the delayed start to the season caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, Will Rhodes will instead lead the side

Australian off-spinner Chris Green will no longer join Birmingham Bears for this year’s T20 Blast.

The 26-year-old had been due to return to the club as captain this year but, following the delayed start to the season caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, Will Rhodes will instead lead the side.

Rhodes was already in line to become the club’s first-class and List A skipper this season.

“All of the cricket management team and players think the world of Chris,” said Warwickshire sport director Paul Farbrace.

“Nobody should forget the commitment that he showed to the Bears last summer by coming into the side for our Vitality Blast home match with Notts Outlaws, within 24 hours after completing a match in the Global T20 Canada.

“These are unfortunate circumstances and sadly the impact of Covid is something that every cricket club and organisation is feeling.

“Chris is a true professional. His willingness to support the club and his and way of dealing with this has been exemplary. We certainly hope that we can bring him back to Edgbaston as a Bear soon.”

Green, a regular on the T20 circuit, was retained on Monday by Guyana Amazon Warriors in the Caribbean Premier League’s draft, while he also signed for Kolkata Knight Riders ahead of this year’s Indian Premier League, which is yet to take place because of the coronavirus outbreak.

He initially joined Birmingham Bears in 2019 as an injury replacement for compatriot Ashton Agar.

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