Player Profile

Lancashire have swooped to sign New Zealand international batter Tom Bruce on a summer-long overseas contract for 2024.

Bruce has played 17 T20 matches for his country, but don’t let that fool you into thinking he is a one-trick pony. This 32-year-old middle order man is anything but.

Here is a right-hander with 10 first-class centuries under his belt, including a best of 208 not out for his domestic side, Central Districts.

In fact, Bruce loves a big score. Of the 10 times he has reached and gone beyond 100, seven of them have been unbeaten and that list of scores includes 166 not out, 208 not out, 204 not out, 169 and 161.

His two double centuries in New Zealand’s Plunket Shield competition came in back-to-back matches in late February and early March 2022, and he was batting at four and five.

Watch some of his highlights, and it is clear Bruce is a player with power but also touch. He is strong all around the wicket.

He has previous county experience having represented Sussex in the Vitality Blast in 2018, though he struggled with only 62 runs in 10 appearances. He didn’t play at Finals Day as Sussex were beaten by Worcestershire in the final that year.

By that stage, Bruce had played 14 of his 17 T20 international appearances, the last of which came in early 2020. He scored two half-centuries for the Black Caps.

A first-class debutant in 2015, Bruce helped Central Districts win back-to-back Plunket Shield titles in 2017/18 and 2018/19.

Whisper it quietly, but Bruce is a bit of a trophy magnet, which will be music to the ears of all connected with Lancashire Cricket.

He has won a trio of Ford Trophy one-day titles with Central Districts; in 2014/15, 2015/16 and 2022/23. He scored a half-century in the final of the latter triumph.

He also captained them to the Super Smash T20 title in 2018/19.

Surely there is a bit more room on the mantlepiece, hey Tom?

He has just finished a spell of T20 cricket in the Bangladesh Premier League - in early 2024 - scoring 278 runs in nine matches for the Chattogram Challengers, including two fifties. He batted at four for them.

He captained New Zealand A as recently as last September on a red ball tour of Australia.

Bruce has described signing for Lancashire as a “dream come true”, and he will hope to have similar success to that of compatriot Daryl Mitchell, who became a popular figure during his short time at Emirates Old Trafford last year.

He will be available across all competitions for the Red Rose.