Reece Topley is the latest England international to turn his back on the first-class game and commit only to white-ball cricket.
The fast bowler, who has played 10 one-day internationals and six Twenty20 internationals for England, has penned a contract with Hampshire for the 2018 season where he will only be available for limited-overs cricket.
The 24-year-old follows in the footsteps of international team-mates Adil Rashid and Alex Hales in making themselves unavailable for red-ball cricket.
A statement on Hampshire’s website read: “Hampshire Cricket can announce that seamer Reece Topley has signed a white-ball contract with the club for the 2018 season.
Hampshire Cricket can announce that seamer @reece_topley has signed a white-ball contract for the 2018 season, as part of a programme to help maximise his playing opportunities whilst preventing injury.
? Read: https://t.co/mrh6rF7Ldr pic.twitter.com/7GOpRTZciT
— Hampshire Cricket (@hantscricket) February 27, 2018
“Topley, who joined Hampshire at the end of 2015, penned the new deal in December as part of a programme to help maximise his playing opportunities whilst preventing injury, throughout the course of the season.”
The left-armer’s 2017 season was ravaged with injuries and he did not play after July due to a stress fracture in his back following an earlier hand problem.
He has returned to action over the winter, being part of England’s Pace Programme, and will be fit for the start of Hampshire’s campaign in April, while also intending to return to red-ball cricket in the future.
“Going forward, I do hope to return to red-ball cricket and still harbour ambitions of being the first left-arm fast bowler to take 100 Test wickets for England but that remains a long-term goal.
“The short-term goal is simply to return to performing for Hampshire and only then perhaps to try and resurrect playing for England where I am still ambitious to add to my 16 caps.
Last 5 training days this week with the Pace Programme in Spain. Loved every moment. Can’t wait to get the season started with @hantscricket ???? pic.twitter.com/c8m11p1zbD
— Reece JW Topley (@reece_topley) February 25, 2018
“I would like to thank Hampshire for their understanding and continued support and cannot wait for the coming season.”
Hampshire’s director of cricket Giles White added: “Reece’s attitude to his rehab and recovery has been outstanding and he deserves for things to go his way this year.
“Reece’s intentions for red-ball cricket are clear, and the longer-form of the game is still something that is important to him in the future – this move is something that ourselves, Reece and the ECB feel is the best route to take this season, for him to be able to achieve his long-term goals at both domestic and international level.”
Topley, whose girlfriend is top tennis player Elina Svitolina, has taken 16 ODI wickets at an average of 25.62.
