Pieter Malan: Warwickshire sign South Africa batsman for 2021

Warwickshire have signed South Africa Test batsman Pieter Malan as their overseas player for the 2021 season.

Malan, 31, has been signed purely for red-ball cricket, starting with the County Championship opener against Derbyshire at Edgbaston on 8 April.

"It's always been an ambition of mine to play county cricket," said Malan.

"I can't wait to get started with the Bears. I'm very excited to be afforded the opportunity at a top county with a proud history like Warwickshire."

Malan's signing follows the announcement on Monday that West Indies international Carlos Brathwaite will play for the Bears in the T20 Blast.

Malan, the eldest of three brothers who have all played first-class cricket, has made 10,691 first-class runs at an average of 44.36, including 33 centuries.

But he did not make his international debut until January 2020, when he played in the final three Tests of the four-Test home series against England.

He made 84 on his debut on his debut at Cape Town - and was a victim for Warwickshire's Chris Woakes in the third.

"Pieter has a very impressive batting average across all three formats," said Warwickshire director of cricket Paul Farbrace. "He has been unlucky not to play more international cricket. 

"We have got some very talented young batsmen in our top order and for them to work with, and bat out in the middle with, someone of Pieter's experience and quality will be brilliant for them. 

"Pieter is also a very impressive man, friendly, likeable and polite, but with real inner steel and with a point to prove. I know how much he wants to come to the Bears and score some serious runs."

This article originally appeared on BBC News

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