The Yorkshire County Cricket Club can confirm that Australian quick Billy Stanlake will no longer represent the Vikings in this summer’s Vitality Blast.
Stanlake’s representatives and Cricket Australia have decided in a change of tack for the centrally contacted right-armer, who is continuing his recovery from a fractured finger sustained during an IPL stint and only began bowling in the nets again last Friday.
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. 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.
Martyn Moxon, the Club’s Director of Cricket, told yorkshireccc.com: “Cricket Australia got in touch on Friday and have decided on a different strategy for Billy Stanlake.
“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. We’re not the only County, it would appear, who has been affected by this.
“We’ll assess the situation as to whether we go for a replacement or not. We may choose to stick with our own players.”
Stanlake was set to play a minimum of 12 matches for the Vikings, possibly missing the opening two through International commitments, but was then due to play right through to final group match against Notts Outlaws at Emerald Headingley (August 17).
