Alana King Signs with Lancashire for Vitality Blast

Australia legspinner Alana King has signed with Lancashire for this summer's Vitality Blast, marking an exciting addition to the club's campaign. King will join the team from their fourth group-stage match against Surrey at Old Trafford on June 7, and will be available for the remainder of the competition, including Finals Day. In addition, she is also contracted to play in two games during the Metro Bank One-Day Cup in July.

The 29-year-old spinner has been in sensational form, having recently been named Player of the Series in Australia’s dominant 16-0 Ashes whitewash of England earlier this year. King's achievements also include helping Australia to victory in both the 2022 ODI World Cup and the 2023 T20 World Cup.

With her impressive track record, including experience in the 2022 Commonwealth Games and the 2023 Ashes tour, King is no stranger to playing in England. She previously featured for Trent Rockets in The Hundred, where she took a memorable hat-trick against Manchester Originals at Old Trafford in 2022.

Expressing her excitement about joining Lancashire, King said: "I am really honoured to be able to represent a great county in Lancashire. When I look at the past great names that have represented the county before me, it truly is a privilege to represent this team."

She added: "I am looking forward to teaming up with Crossy [Kate Cross], Sophie [Ecclestone], and the rest of the Red Rose girls, and driving our charge towards a successful campaign in the Vitality Blast. It will be fantastic to play at Emirates Old Trafford, one of the world’s most iconic grounds, and I trust that all the Lancs fans will get out and support us during the tournament."

King, who has taken more than 100 wickets in the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) and won the title with Perth Scorchers in the 2021-22 season, has also been a teammate of Lancashire’s Sophie Ecclestone at UP Warriorz in this year's Women’s Premier League (WPL).

Lancashire Women's head coach, Chris Read, expressed his enthusiasm for King's signing: "We are thrilled by the news that Alana, one of the leading stars in the recent Women’s Ashes series, will join us at Emirates Old Trafford later this summer. Alana will bring with her an incredible amount of skill and experience, from both the international stage and franchise cricket around the world, and we cannot wait to see her in action for the Red Rose."

Read also highlighted King’s impact in the Vitality Blast, especially in spin-friendly conditions at Old Trafford: "Spin plays an important role at Emirates Old Trafford, and I have no doubts that Alana will positively impact matches for us in the Vitality Blast, while it will also be great to have her around for a couple of 50-over fixtures later in the season too."

King’s signing is expected to bolster Lancashire’s spin department as they aim for a successful campaign in the 2025 Vitality Blast.