Richard Gleeson signs white-ball contract with Lancashire

Richard Gleeson will feature for Lancashire again this season after signing an initial T20 contract with the club ahead of the Vitality Blast competition.

Gleeson, 34, made headlines in 2020 when he was named in England's 55-man training squad at the height of the Covid-19 outbreak, and trained with the ODI squad for the series against Ireland that summer - a remarkable rise for a player who did not make his first-class debut until he was 27, having previously worked in a boiler factory and as a landscape gardener.

However, he has barely played in the last two seasons - with one appearance in 2020 and two T20 outings in 2021 - after being diagnosed with a stress fracture of the back, and as a consequence has chosen to focus on white-ball cricket only this year.

"After a really frustrating couple of years with injury, I am pleased to sign a new contract with the club, and I am looking forward to making an impact in T20 cricket this summer," Gleeson said.

Gleeson has since undergone rehabilitation with Lancashire's Sports Science and Medical Department and trained with the wider squad throughout the winter. He will step up his workload next week as he is included in the club's squad for the Dubai pre-season tour.

"I would like to thank all of the club's Medical Department for their ongoing support, hopefully this is the start of a return to full fitness and getting back on the park more regularly," he added.

"It's been a really positive winter so far and hopefully that continues on pre-season tour and into the start of the summer."

Lancashire Head Coach, Glen Chapple added: "We are looking forward to having Richard available for us initially in the Vitality Blast and believe he can make an important contribution for us.

"He has had a tough time of it over the last 18 months but has worked hard with our Sports Science and Medical team to regain full fitness ahead of this year's campaign.

"We know what he is capable of and we're looking forward to having him as part of our T20 squad this year."