Ashton Turner joins Worcestershire for T20 Blast campaign

The Perth Scorchers batsman will be available for the entire tournament, joining New Zealander Hamish Rutherford at the 2018 champions

Australia batsman Ashton Turner has agreed to join Worcestershire for next year's T20 Blast.

The 26-year-old was first called up by Australia to make his first-class debut against Sussex during the 2013 Ashes tour, and impressive Big Bash performances for Perth Scorchers saw him make a full international debut in a T20 encounter with Sri Lanka in 2017.

Turner has since gone on to receive 13 further caps, starring with an unbeaten 84 from 43 balls as Australia successfully chased 358 in an ODI in Mohali earlier this year.

Paul Pridgeon, chair of Worcestershire's Cricket Steering Group, commented: "We are very pleased to sign Ashton. He is a promising, young player which fits our profile and hopefully he will fit nicely into our set-up.

"He is a top order batter, batting four or five at the moment in the Australian T20 side.

"His stats stack up. We’ve seen footage of him and have done our homework – he looks a decent player.

"He is also a terrific fielder which helps, and is important in T20 cricket."

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Turner will join opener Hamish Rutherford at New Road next season after the New Zealander agreed last month to return in 2020 on an all-formats overseas deal.

Both Turner and Rutherford are said to be available for the Rapids' entire T20 Blast campaign, where Moeen Ali's side will be hoping to regain the crown they won in 2018.

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