Durham named James Neesham an overseas signing for the T20 Blast

New Zealand all-rounder Jimmy Neesham has signed with Durham for the 2025 Vitality T20 Blast, marking his sixth stint with an English county. The 34-year-old brings extensive experience, having played 83 T20 Internationals and 76 ODIs for New Zealand. In T20 cricket, he has amassed over 4,000 runs and taken nearly 250 wickets, showcasing his prowess as a destructive middle-order batter and a reliable bowler in both the middle overs and at the death. Neesham's previous county experiences include spells with Derbyshire, Essex, Kent, Leicestershire, and Northamptonshire. He has also featured in various global T20 leagues, representing teams like the Mumbai Indians, Hobart Hurricanes, and Pretoria Capitals. Expressing his enthusiasm about joining Durham, Neesham said: "I am really looking forward to playing for Durham this summer. The Vitality Blast is one of my favourite competitions and I have heard good things about the Durham squad. I look forward to getting stuck in with the lads in a few weeks." Durham's Director of Cricket, Marcus North, highlighted Neesham's value to the team: "Jimmy is an experienced international T20 allrounder with a proven track record of delivering performances for New Zealand and in franchise competitions around the world. His ability to influence games either with the bat or ball provides us with a proven matchwinner." Durham will commence their T20 Blast campaign on May 29, aiming to build upon their 2024 performance, where they reached the quarter-finals for the first time in six years.