Leus du Plooy joins Middlesex on long-term contract
Leus du Plooy, Derbyshire’s captain, will depart the membership on the finish of the season after agreeing a five-year contract with Middlesex.
As reported by ESPNcricinfo, Middlesex had been on the entrance of the queue to signal du Plooy, who had been supplied an extension by Derbyshire however has opted to maneuver to London after 5 seasons with the midlands county.
Du Plooy is averaging 98.10 within the County Championship this season, with 981 runs and three centuries. He solely took over as captain final yr, after Billy Godleman stepped down, and regardless of his kind Derbyshire are at the moment backside of Division Two. In the Blast, they narrowly missed out on a quarter-final spot after defeat of their final group sport.
Born in South Africa however eligible as a non-overseas participant attributable to a Hungarian passport and pre-settled standing within the UK, du Plooy has constructed a productive file throughout codecs, profitable contracts within the Hundred with Welsh Fire and Southern Brave, having additionally impressed within the SA20 for Joburg Super Kings.
“We are delighted that Leus has chosen to join Middlesex Cricket and are really excited about what he will bring to the group,” Middlesex’s director of cricket, Alan Coleman, mentioned. “Leus is a player that we have admired for a long time, and he will make a significant difference to our squad in all forms of the game.
“The indisputable fact that Middlesex had been certainly one of a number of counties chasing his signature, along with his contract with Derbyshire ending this yr, is testomony to not solely his talents as a cricketer however to him as a person, and we’re simply so happy that he’ll be heading to Lord’s. He is the sort of participant and one that will add a lot to our dressing room.
“The fact that he is Southern Brave’s most expensive domestic signing this year in the Hundred, in the top value bracket of players, shows what a world-class striker of the ball he is, and he will be a huge boost to our T20 squad as well as our red-ball squad.
“We cannot wait to welcome Leus to Lord’s and sit up for him having fun with an extended and profitable profession with the membership. He will play a giant a part of every thing we need to obtain shifting forwards right here at Middlesex.”
In first-class cricket, du Plooy averages 47.17, with 18 hundreds. He has also scored more than 2500 career runs in T20, at a strike rate of 133.50.
“I’m extremely honoured and intensely excited to start this new chapter with Middlesex Cricket,” du Plooy said. “Lord’s is a particular place to play, and it will be surreal to name it my residence floor subsequent yr.
“I’m really looking forward to meeting everyone and forming new relationships, creating special memories and improve my game at such a prestigious club.”