Fresh from his starring role in Australia’s T20 tri-series campaign, it’s been announced that fast bowler Billy Stanlake will play T20 cricket with the Yorkshire Vikings this year.
The Club teased the signing on social media, with speculation going into overdrive throughout the night.
Set your alarm clocks, there’s some big news coming in the morning…
???? 22/02/18
? 7am#YourYorkshire pic.twitter.com/sLLfBP0UDI— Yorkshire CCC (@YorkshireCCC) February 21, 2018
There was even a rumoured return for Dickie Bird!
The news breaks at 7am
BREAKING: Towering Australian paceman Billy Stanlake has today signed a deal with the Yorkshire Vikings for this summer’s Vitality Blast. Full story to follow…#YourYorkshire pic.twitter.com/Cv0cOZOXNj
— Yorkshire CCC (@YorkshireCCC) February 22, 2018
Among the first to react was First XI coach Andrew Gale, who is delighted to have secured Stanlake’s services, having monitored him for much of the past 12 months.
Welcome Billy, this signing really excites me. Adds great competition to our squad. https://t.co/gHJwcInCx3
— Andrew Gale (@GaleyLad) February 22, 2018
This last couple of months have seen Stanlake win the Big Bash with Jason Gillespie’s Adelaide Strikers, with him claiming 11 wickets from 10 matches and forming a potent attack alongside Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan and inventive seamer Ben Laughlin.
Such was the impression he made on Dizzy, the former Yorkshire coach admitted that he wants the young gun to be a Striker “for life”.
He’s not a bad bowler is Billy…. https://t.co/sQ4475YwtI
— Jason Gillespie ???????? (@dizzy259) February 22, 2018
And former players, including former England captain and Yorkshire star Michael Vaughan, were quick to praise the Club’s latest acquisition.
Proper Signing … Welcome to the Greatest Cricket club in the World Billy … #Yawkshire https://t.co/tTOVYX3xT1
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) February 22, 2018
Great news team ????performer https://t.co/EVOlT7z3QC
— Darren Gough (@DGoughie) February 22, 2018
The voice of Yorkshire Cricket and BBC Radio Leeds’ Dave Callaghan was thrilled at t he prospect of seeing the Gold Coast product link up with the White Rose.
I have been working- sadly not Down Under- on ashes, T 20 and 50 overs from England during the winter I am delighted with the signing of Bill Stanlake for YCCC. A real talent who can only get better and is quicker than Mitchell Starc.
— David Callaghan (@CallyCricket) February 22, 2018
The Club’s commercial team arrived in the office with a spring in their step this morning. They can’t wait to see Big Billy charging in at Emerald Headingley this summer. They were also quick to point out that season tickets cost just £77 for seven home fixtures
Great start to the morning #YourYorkshire https://t.co/5fOzSPTRVx
— YCCC_Commercial (@YCCC_Commercial) February 22, 2018
And the messages continued to pour in with unofficial fan group Reasonable Tykes taking a more insightful look at this morning’s announcement.
Hope he does a similar job to what Starc did for us a few seasons ago….let’s hope he stays fit…he seems to get injured just by watching ‘A question of Sport’ …..
— Gary Ashton (@garyashton58) February 22, 2018
Wow pure pace and bounce !!! Worth going
Cookie2698</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/RichCooke14?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">RichCooke14— Mark Cooke (@MarkCooke7) February 22, 2018
Should be a cracking signing! https://t.co/Ohh7jRL953
— James (@JamesLeahy97) February 22, 2018
No messing about
YorkshireCCC</a> this season. Williamson, Pujara and now Big Billy! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cantwait?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#cantwait</a></p>— Alexander Dodds (Ale_X_brew) February 22, 2018
Fantastic bowler, fast but also accurate! We’re defo gonna be in serious contention for that T20 blast title now, with the fine squad we have this season! ???????? #YCCC #Yorkshire
— Rachel Hack #F1 #YCCC ???????? (@Rach_H79FGP1) February 22, 2018
This lad is an ace! Great signing Yorkshire
— Scott Crabtree (@ScottCrabby) February 22, 2018
well done ???? Billy Stanlake … Good Luck ????
StrikersBBL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/YorkshireCCC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">YorkshireCCC— ???????? (@imshimanto) February 22, 2018
Billy Stanlake is a very very good signing for
YorkshireCCC</a> for this year's T20 Blast - tall, fast and surprisingly economical for a seamer in limited-overs cricket - hope he can perform in English conditions. ???? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/T20Blast?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#T20Blast</a></p>— Scott Taylor (ScottTaylorUK) February 22, 2018
