Paul Stirling Joins Birmingham Bears For Vitality Blast 2023
Paul Stirling in action [Source: Twitter]
In a significant development, veteran Irish batter Paul Stirling has joined Birmingham Bears for the Vitality Blast 2023 season. Recently, Cricket Ireland granted the opener a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to participate in the showpiece event.
Stirling has been added to the Bears' squad as a cover for Glenn Maxwell, who will miss the first few matches owing to IPL commitment. So, his stint will be short comprising at most four matches.
Meanwhile, Birmingham head coach Mr Mark Robinson expressed his happiness at securing Stirling's services for the tournament. He hailed the talisman for his calibre and experience, expecting him to help the club clinch the title this season.
Here's what Robinson stated
"We're very lucky to be able to call on somebody of Paul's calibre as cover. A lot will depend on when the final of the IPL is scheduled and how far Glenn's team progresses. Paul made a big impact last season and the one over in which he hit five sixes and one four in an over will live long in the memory of Bears fans,
"But he was also great to have in the club and around the dressing room. He's a great lad with huge domestic and international experience. I'm looking forward to welcoming him back into the Bears fold."
Regarded as the finest-ever player from Ireland, Stirling has 3181 runs to his name in 121 T20I appearances.
He represented the Bears to perfection in the Vitality Blast last year, amassing 313 runs, including a century, at a marvellous strike rate of 174.86.
So, considering his skillset, we expect him to put up some impactful performances for the Bears in the tournament.
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