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Ireland international Kevin O’Brien has signed for Leicestershire CCC, as they strengthen their side ahead of the NatWest T20 Blast.
O’Brien will be another Foxes T20 specialist along with Grant Elliott, who played stunning innings of 83 not out and 83 against South Africa and Australia in the ICC World Cup semi-final and final respectively.

The Ireland international, who is the brother of Leicestershire batsman and wicket-keeper Niall, will be at Grace Road between the period of May 15 and June 26.

O’Brien has played in 125 T20 games in his career and needs just 20 runs to reach the 2,000 mark. He has maintained a terrific strike rate of 132.35 in 111 innings and O’Brien’s 68 wickets have come at an average of 22.94 and an economy of less than 7.5 runs per over.

The 31-year-old was a key member of the Ireland squad who played in the ICC World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. O’Brien has played 90 ODIs and 37 T20s for Ireland with his most famous innings being the fastest ever ICC World Cup century at the time in the famous win against England in 2011.

O’Brien has scored 2,309 ODI runs at 32.52 and has taken 74 wickets at 31.52. His T20I record is also impressive with 399 runs at a strike rate of 117.35 being added to with 26 wickets at an economy of exactly 7 runs per over.

It will not take O’Brien much time to settle into life at Grace Road given his vast experience of the county circuit. O’Brien has had spells with Gloucestershire, Nottinghamshire, Somerset and Surrey and is also well-travelled. He has played in the Bangladesh Premier League and Caribbean Premier League as well as playing all over the world with Ireland.

Leicestershire and Rutland Cricket Chief Executive Wasim Khan MBE said: “It is great to have Kevin as part of our NatWest T20 Blast team in 2015. Kevin adds further international experience to a line-up that includes his brother Niall, Grant Elliott, Mark Cosgrove, Clint McKay and Rob Taylor, and we look forward to seeing him in action at Grace Road.”

Source: Leicestershire Cricket

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