Firebirds Add Pacer Liam Dudding from Stags

Fast bowler Liam Dudding has completed a transfer to the Wellington Firebirds ahead of the 2024/25 summer, making the move to the capital from the Central Stags. Dudding, 30, is fresh off the strongest season of his career numbers-wise, posting a career-high 22 Plunket Shield wickets at an average of 19.04.

The defending Plunket Shield-champion Firebirds add another reliable pacer in Dudding, who has done the bulk of his professional work in first-class cricket over his career. He also featured for the Stags in three limited overs fixtures over the last two seasons, adding depth to the white ball bowling stocks.

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Commenting on the transfer, Wellington Firebirds' Head Coach Shane Jurgensen was pleased to add a player of Dudding's quality,

"We are delighted to welcome Liam Dudding to the Firebirds family. His last couple of years has shown the qualities of a player entering the peak of his career, and we’re excited to have him work with [Azhar Abbas, Bowling Coach] and the rest of our pace unit”, said Jurgensen.

“His character and work ethic also stood out to us, and we think we have another top guy to add to our dressing room.”

Liam Dudding is eager for the new chapter in his career, saying, “I’m grateful for the opportunity to join Wellington this summer and am looking forward to contributing to the team's success. The Firebirds have a strong culture both on and off the field, so I’m really excited to be amongst this group of lads.”

Dudding will be added to the Firebirds contracts list for the upcoming season, with the rest of Round 1’s contracts to be announced on Thursday 18th July.

The Firebirds pre-season training will begin in early September in the leadup to the domestic summer.

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