Essex Cricket is happy to announce that Australian all-rounder Daniel Sams will return as a foreign player for the first eight games of the 2024 Vitality Blast.
Sams, 31, was the Eagles’ best run-scorer and wicket-taker in last season’s league, and he was voted the competition’s Most Valuable Player when the club reached the final.
He was born in New South Wales and has played 10 T20Is for Australia. He has also represented teams all around the world, including three IPL clubs and both Sydney Big Bash outfits.
Sams has an explosive career T20 batting strike rate of 153.78, with a highest score of 98 not out, and has taken 191 wickets in the format at an average of 24.01.
He scored 419 runs in an Eagles shirt last summer, including two half-centuries, with an average of 29.92, and took 25 wickets at 21.00 to win the Blast MVP award ahead of Hampshire’s James Vincent.
Sams stated after signing the contract that will bring him back to The Cloud County Ground for a third consecutive season: “I’m incredibly thrilled to be returning to Essex, especially after the year we had in 2023.
“Chelmsford is a great ground, filled with really passionate fans, and you feel that energy from the stands when they’re packed out under the floodlights.
“I loved being able to contribute to the success we had last season, and the team, in my opinion, is good enough to have a strong chance of going one better and lifting some silverware.”
Head Coach Anthony McGrath added: “We’re certainly happy to have Daniel back for the Blast this year.
“He showed us in no uncertain terms what he’s capable of last summer, and he was an instrumental part of our team, so we’re looking forward to seeing him again for the first block of T20 games.”
