Stanlake pulls out of Yorkshire T20 stint to pursue red-ball future

The tall seamer was due to be available for 12 matches for the Vikings but, as he recovers from a broken finger, has opted against the move

^{Billy Stanlake has pulled out of a T20 deal with Yorkshire Vikings}

Australia paceman Billy Stanlake will no longer represent Yorkshire in this year's T20 Blast.

The tall seamer was due to be available for 12 matches for the Vikings but, as he recovers from a broken finger, has opted against the move.

According to Yorkshire, the decision was made jointly between Stanlake, his representatives and Cricket Australia.

"Despite having played just two first-class matches due to his vulnerability to injury, the last of which came in November 2015, the 23-year-old believes that red-ball cricket could well prove to be his best format," a statement from the county read.

^{Stanlake had been due to play 12 games for Yorkshire}

"Stanlake is likely to be put through a full pre-season with the Queensland Bulls, having been included on their 18-19 contract list, ahead of any potential Sheffield Shield involvement later in the year."

Director of cricket Martyn Moxon, who suggested that other counties have been discovering similar issues, revealed that Cricket Australia had made Yorkshire aware of Stanlake's unavailability on Friday.

“Now the new Australia coach is in place, they want him to play some different cricket to T20 during the period he was due to be with us. Consequently, they’ve pulled him out of our deal, which is obviously very disappointing for us," he told the club's official website.

There is no commitment from Yorkshire to find a replacement overseas player to fill the void, with Moxon intimating that he may rely on his existing bowling options instead.

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