Lancashire sign England wicket keeper

Lancashire have announce the signing of England one-day wicketkeeper Jos Buttler.

The 23 year-old has played 19 one-day Internationals and 25 Twenty20 matches for his country, and is renowned as a big-hitting batsman and a supremely talented wicketkeeper.He moves to Emirates Old Trafford after spending his professional career at Somerset where he made his first class debut against Lancashire in 2009.

The Taunton-born star has hit over 2,000 runs in First Class cricket and taken 81 dismissals behind the stumps in 47 matches. He has also scored just under 4,000 runs in limited overs cricket as well as claiming 145 victims with the gloves.

Buttler has had some impressive displays this summer, which included a splendid 75 in the second NatWest ODI at Emirates Old Trafford, and will tour Australia this winter alongside his new county team-mate Simon Kerrigan with England’s Performance Programme squad.

Lancashire’s Cricket Director Mike Watkinson said: “We are delighted to bring Jos to Emirates Old Trafford. He is a regular England International and has demonstrated that he is growing as a cricketer. His talent and ability match our ambitions going forward.”

Head Coach Peter Moores added: “It is great news Jos will be joining us and he will become part of a highly competitive squad. His style of cricket will add value to the team in all formats of the game and his potential as a player is very exciting."

Jos Buttler commented: “I am delighted to be joining Lancashire County Cricket Club. They have a strong squad and are very ambitious to build on this season’s achievement. The club has an exceptional coaching staff which will help me to continue to develop as a keeper batsman.“

"Emirates Old Trafford is a world class venue and has tremendous state-of-the-art facilities for cricketers. I really enjoyed playing there earlier this month for England and hope to be involved in next year’s One Day International against Sri Lanka."

"Lancashire have a talented group of players who will be looking to challenge for all three competitions. They have been there or thereabouts in recent seasons in the T20 competition and I know for certain that Lancashire Lightning will want to make a mark in the NatWest T20 next year.“

"Finally, I want to pay a special thanks to everybody at Somerset. I thoroughly enjoyed my time there and will leave with plenty of good memories.”