Finn Allen joins Yorkshire for Vitality Blast this year

For the Vitality Blast this season, Finn Allen has been roped in by Yorkshire's side. The explosive Black Caps batter joins Pakistan's Haris Rauf and all-rounder Shadab Khan as Yorkshire's T20 overseas signings for 2022. Last season, Allen was a part of Lancashire and contributed 399 runs at a staggering strike rate of 159.60 and an average of 33.25. After helping Lancashire reach the quarterfinals in the Vitality Blast, he joined Birmingham Phoenix for The Hundred (Men's).

Allen is currently a part of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), participating in the 2022 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). 

While speaking to Yorkshire Post, Allen seemed enthusiastic to play with the new bunch of players, "I am looking forward to returning to county cricket for the upcoming Blast. I enjoyed my first foray into the competition last season and am hungry to contribute to a successful campaign for Yorkshire."

"As luck would have it, I am currently spending some quality time at RCB with David Willey, so it is great to establish that relationship before arriving."

In 51 T20 matches so far in his career, Allen has scored 1537 runs at a strike rate nearing 176, with the highest score of 92*.

Darren Gough, Yorkshire's interim managing director of cricket, spoke about adding the player to the squad, "We have brought in Finn Allen, an explosive batsman and outstanding young player. Finn will come here to replace Haris Rauf, who we have for the Championship games an early season and the first five Blast matches."

"Our signings to date will give us some excellent options in the Blast, and I am thrilled to add these talented players to an already existing squad," Gough added.

With Khan, Rauf, and now Finn in the squad, Yorkshire hopes to have a cracking season ahead. They will start their group campaign against Worcestershire at Headingley on the 25th of May.