Ben McDermott joins Hampshire for T20 Blast

Hampshire have announced the signing of Ben McDermott, the Australia batter, for their Vitality Blast campaign.

McDermott, 27, has enjoyed a stellar recent run of form, finishing as the leading run-scorer in the 2021-22 Big Bash before notching his maiden international half-century for Australia, in the T20Is series against Sri Lanka, last week.

"Ben is an exciting talent and we are really pleased that he's joining us for the Vitality Blast," Giles White, Hampshire's director of cricket, said. "He had an excellent BBL and his power and ability to clear the ropes make him an excellent fit for us. We are looking forward to seeing him in a Hawks shirt this summer."

McDermott, the son of former Australia fast bowler Craig, has played two ODIs and 20 T20Is since first being capped in 2018. In this season's BBL, he scored 577 runs with a strike rate of 153.86 for Hobart Hurricanes, which included back-to-back hundreds.

He was due to play for Derbyshire in the 2020 Blast but had his contract deferred by the Covid-19 pandemic. He then featured in just two first-class matches for the county last summer before being called up for Australia's tours of the West Indies and Bangladesh.

McDermott said: "I am really excited to join the Hawks for this summer's Vitality Blast. I'm looking forward to joining James Vince and the team at the Ageas Bowl and am hoping I can contribute to a successful T20 campaign."