Pears sign New Zealand bowler Duffy for part of 2025

Jacob Duffy (right) has played in eight one-day internationals and 15 T20 international for New Zealand and has taken 299 first-class wickets

Worcestershire have signed New Zealand fast bowler Jacob Duffy for the first part of the County Championship and T20 Blast campaigns in 2025.

The 30-year-old will be available for six red-ball matches in April and May and at least one of the two rounds scheduled in June.

His deal also covers eight Blast games up until the end of that month.

Duffy's stint at New Road will be his third in English cricket after spells with Kent in 2022 and Nottinghamshire last season.

He becomes the latest New Zealander to play for the Pears, following Surrey-bound Nathan Smith's successful spell at New Road last summer.

"I know a lot of New Zealanders have played for Worcestershire in recent years and been successful and I hope I can emulate them and help the club to be successful," Duffy said.

"I've had short spells over in England before but hope being with Worcestershire for almost three months can help with my development as a cricketer."

Duffy, who has played 23 white-ball games for the Black Caps, will help compensate for the retirement of the long-serving Joe Leach next season in the Worcestershire attack.

Head coach Alan Richardson said Duffy's signing as their first overseas recruit will give the squad a boost.

"It feels like we are getting someone who is highly skilled, experienced and a very robust cricketer," he said.

"With there being no Joe [Leach], it was important to see how we try and fill that gap in different ways.

"We also know from doing diligence that Jacob is an outstanding character which is really important in terms of how they fit in, how they work with the current players.

"We've not only got a skilful cricketer but also an outstanding individual as well so that is really exciting for us."

Duffy's spell at New Road will start against Yorkshire at Headingley on 11 April, after the opening match of the season at Somerset a week earlier.