Tasmania sign ambidextrous spinner Nivethan Radhakrishnan

Tasmania have signed the only known male ambidextrous cricketer in the Australian system with 18-year-old allrounder Nivethan Radhakrishnan joining on a rookie contract.

Radhakrishnan was born in India and moved to Sydney when he was 10. He is able to bowl both offspin with his dominant right arm and left-arm spin. He has been part of the New South Wales system and represented Australia at Under-16s level.

In 2019, he said he had started bowling with his left arm when he was just seven. "There wasn't anyone in world cricket doing it at that stage," he told Fox Sports. "We were very dreamy about it."

Radhakrishnan is one of two signings for Tasmania ahead of the 2021-22 season with allrounder Bradley Hope switching from Western Australia.

"Brad and Nivvi are both really exciting young cricketers, and we are thrilled that they are coming to join the Tigers program and progress their careers here in Tasmania," Jeff Vaughan, the head of Tasmania's male program, said.

The Australian game has already seen an ambidextrous bowler at professional level with Jemma Barsby, who now plays for Perth Scorchers and South Australia, able to bowl with both arms.

The feat has also been seen on the international stage with Sri Lanka's Kamindu Mendis switching between right and left-arm spin.

Tasmania squad Tom Andrews, Gabe Bell, Jackson Bird, Iain Carlisle, Jake Doran, Nathan Ellis, Jarrod Freeman (rookie), Brad Hope (rookie), Caleb Jewell, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Lawrence Neil-Smith, Mitch Owen (rookie), Tim Paine (CA contract), Nivethan Radhakrishnan (rookie), Sam Rainbird, Peter Siddle, Jordan Silk, Mac Wright, Matthew Wade, Charlie Wakim, Tim Ward, Beau Webster