Blewett to star for Notts in 2001

The Australian all-rounder Greg Blewett has signed as Nottinghamshire's overseas player for the 2001 season. The prolific right-handed run scorer has signed a contract at Trent Bridge and will join Clive Rice's men in the spring to push for promotion to Division One of the PPP Healthcare County Championship.

Rice is delighted to have captured the signature of the 29-year-old South Australian star. who is a proven performer in both First Class and Test cricket. Rice said: "Greg is a very exciting stroke-maker who will strengthen our batting line-up in no uncertain terms.

"I would like to think he is not just a 1,000 run man but is more than capable of contributing 1,300 or 1,400. He is on the fringes of the Test side who are over here next summer, and I believe that will work to our advantage as he will be out to impress the Australian selectors and will be hungry for runs.

"As a batsman who can bowl, Greg will take some of the pressure off our attack and give them the opportunity to show what they can do. He will also add a new dimension with his excellent fielding."

Blewett made his Test debut in the 1994-95 Ashes series and has played 46 times for Australia, passing 50 on 15 occasions and hitting four centuries - including two in his first two matches. In First Class Cricket he has scored more than 11,000 runs for the Redbacks of South Australia at an average of 44.08, and has taken 100 wickets with his right arm medium pace.

Rice added: "He also has experience of playing in England and I think the conditions he will play under here at Trent Bridge will be much easier than when he played for Yorkshire at Headingley in 1999."