Northamptonshire have recruited Stellenbosch University Cricket Club‘s Ricardo Vasconcelos.
Vasconcelos will join the division two outfit before the start of the 2018 County Championship, which starts in April. Northamptonshire’s first match will be against Middlesex at Lord’s in London.
The talented 20-year-old has scored two centuries and four half-tons in 11 first-class fixtures for Boland. He was also named in the Cape Cobras’ squad for a key Ram Slam T20 Challenge fixture against the Titans last year – and previously played for South Africa Under-19.
He will be a welcome wicketkeeper-batsman resource to a Northamptonshire unit minus the services of the retired David Murphy and injured Ben Duckett.
“I am very excited to have the opportunity to represent Northants. It is a massive opportunity that I hope to grab with both hands,” said Vasconcelos, who has a Portuguese passport – and won’t be registered as an overseas player.
“I am looking forward to working with and learn from some of the more experienced players so that I can accelerate my growth as a player as quickly as possible. I am also eager to try and contribute as much as I can to the team’s success.”