Vitality Blast 2024: Ashton Turner and Durham extend their collaboration

Prior to the Vitality Blast 2024, which will be the competition’s 22nd edition, Durham re-signed Australian T20 specialist middle-order hitter Ashton Turner.

Turner may have only played 19 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) for Australia since making his debut in February 2017, but the hard-hitting player has already participated in 186 T20s, amassing 2,851 runs at a respectable strike rate of 141.20, including a best score of 84*, which also happens to be his best knock in one-day internationals.

He played 11 arduous seasons for the Perth Scorchers, the most successful team in the Big Bash League (BBL), who have won the competition a record five times. Over the years, he was a vital middle-order player for them.

Of note, the 31-year-old player has spent the last two summers making Riverside Ground his temporary home. He has played for Durham in the last two seasons, scoring 124 and 284 in the 2022 and 2023 editions, respectively. With his right arm off-spin, he also had his greatest T20 scores, returning figures of 3/20 in the Vitality Blast of the previous year.

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Marcus North, Durham’s Director of Cricket, showered the Australian with praise, saying he’s demonstrated key leadership qualities and has fit in with his teammates in the dressing room just fine. Turner had led Western Australia and the Perth Scorchers to many title victories in the previous years; therefore, he was also referred to as a proven leader and go-getter.

“He has shown essential leadership qualities during his two stints at the club, and he blends in our dressing room perfectly. Having led the Scorchers and Western Australia to numerous titles in recent years, he is a proven leader and run scorer, according to North.

We can set very high goals for this year. Ashton Turner

In reference to Durham’s promotion from the second division to the first in the 2023 County Championship due to winning, as well as the team’s recent additions and improved player availability, Turner expressed his desire for Durham to move on from the previous two seasons and approach the new campaign with newfound vigor.

“We have underachieved over the last couple years, but combining the confidence that some success in red-ball cricket brings with some exciting new signings and hopefully more player availabilities, this year we can be extremely ambitious,” said Turner.