Staffordshire have continued their squad strengthening with the recruitment of left-arm spinner Tom Brett.
The 33-year-old has made the move to Staffs after a long spell with Bedfordshire, where he picked up more than 200 wickets in all NCCA competitions.
Brett’s arrival adds experience to the Staffordshire spin-bowling ranks following the retirement of fellow slow left-armer Paul Byrne.
Byrne called time on his Staffs career at the end of last season – and Staffordshire have been looking for potential replacements to bolster their attack.
Head coach Andy Carr said: “Byrney is going to be a big miss. He was inspirational for us and his stats were very good.
“He also had that experience, which is what Tom will bring to us as well. Both Paul and Tom are match-winners, which is what you need, especially in red-ball cricket.
“It’s a terrific signing and we now have a good balance of experience and youth in the bowling attack.
“We have Liam Hurt and Tom as the older heads and they can pass on their knowledge to the younger bowlers.
“We’re now well covered in the spin department. There’s Tom who is left-arm, along with Nils Priestley, two off-spinners in James Cronie and Jack Redman, plus a leggie in Zen Malik.
“That is it now for us and it’s about developing what we have. As coach, it’s getting that uniformity and bond to create that match-winning experience.
“On paper we have a strong squad and now we’ve got to find the right jigsaw to get success.”
Brett also possesses pro experience after playing two first-class games and six List A matches for Northamptonshire in 2010 and 2011.
However, it is on the National Counties Cricket Association circuit where he has really shone.
His best summer was in 2017 when he claimed 48 wickets, including best innings figures of 8-87 in a close defeat by Suffolk.
In 2021 he was instrumental in helping Bedfordshire to win promotion from NCCA Division Two East as he scooped 43 victims to see them top the table.
Brett was impressive last summer as well, picking up 36 wickets, although his efforts couldn’t prevent Beds from being relegated from Division One East.
But he enjoyed personal success, taking 7-33 and 6-55 in a crushing innings victory over Norfolk at Manor Park.
He also helped his club side, Finedon Dolben, to win the Northamptonshire League Premier Division.
Brett’s move to Staffordshire sees him reunited with James Kettleborough and James Cronie who trod the same path over the winter.
