Cape Town - South Africa's Albie Morkel has signed a deal to play T20 cricket for English County side, Derbyshire.
The 32-year-old Morkel has fallen out of favour with the Proteas selectors in recent seasons, but is still a force to be reckoned with in the shortest format of the game.
He recently completed his sixth Indian Premier League campaign, representing the Chennai Super Kings and will now set his sights on doing well in England.
According to the ESPNcricinfo website, Morkel will feature in nine of Derbyshire's ten games in the Friends Life T20 competition.
Morkel has played league cricket at Leek, a Derbyshire outground, and Derbyshire's head coach, Karl Krikken, is confident that has had a bearing on his decision.
"Albie still has some close connections with the area," Krikken said. "I'm sure the strong relationship we have with our pals at Leek Cricket Club has had a bearing on his decision."
Morkel has played 42 T20 internationals for South Africa, boasting 521 runs with a strike rate of 142.73 as well as taking 22 wickets.
He said he is looking forward to doing well at the Derbyshire. "I've always enjoyed the challenge of playing in England and, although I initially hadn't considered playing county cricket this season, the timing has worked out well and I am really looking forward to contributing to Derbyshire."
The 32-year-old Morkel has fallen out of favour with the Proteas selectors in recent seasons, but is still a force to be reckoned with in the shortest format of the game.
He recently completed his sixth Indian Premier League campaign, representing the Chennai Super Kings and will now set his sights on doing well in England.
According to the ESPNcricinfo website, Morkel will feature in nine of Derbyshire's ten games in the Friends Life T20 competition.
Morkel has played league cricket at Leek, a Derbyshire outground, and Derbyshire's head coach, Karl Krikken, is confident that has had a bearing on his decision.
"Albie still has some close connections with the area," Krikken said. "I'm sure the strong relationship we have with our pals at Leek Cricket Club has had a bearing on his decision."
Morkel has played 42 T20 internationals for South Africa, boasting 521 runs with a strike rate of 142.73 as well as taking 22 wickets.
He said he is looking forward to doing well at the Derbyshire. "I've always enjoyed the challenge of playing in England and, although I initially hadn't considered playing county cricket this season, the timing has worked out well and I am really looking forward to contributing to Derbyshire."