Lancashire Lightning sign Ben McDermott for the 2026 Vitality Blast
Lancashire Cricket is delighted to confirm the signing of Australia international Ben McDermott for the Club’s 2026 Vitality Blast campaign.
The right-handed batter will join Lancashire for the full duration of the 2026 competition, adding firepower and experience to Lightning’s T20 squad.
McDermott has amassed over 3,000 runs in Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL), featuring regularly for the Hobart Hurricanes since 2016. His BBL career includes three centuries and 18 half-centuries, at a strike rate close to 140. The 31-year-old has featured in several franchise leagues around the world, including The Hundred, SA20, Caribbean Premier League, Abu Dhabi T10, Hong Kong Sixes and the Global Super League.
He is also experienced in English conditions, having made 44 appearances for Hampshire Hawks in the Blast between 2022 and 2024, scoring 1,138 runs, including 10 fifties. McDermott struck 62 from 36 balls in the 2022 final as the Hawks defeated Lancashire Lightning by one run at Edgbaston.
At international level, McDermott has represented Australia in both One-Day Internationals and T20 Internationals, including appearances at global tournaments, earning 30 caps for his country.
McDermott will be available for the entirety of the 2026 Vitality Blast and will link up with the Lightning squad ahead of the opening fixtures of the competition. He will be joined by fellow Australian Chris Green, who returns for his third spell at Emirates Old Trafford this summer.
Speaking about the move, Ben McDermott said: “I’m thrilled to be joining Lancashire Lightning for the 2026 Vitality Blast. Lancashire is one of the biggest county clubs in England, with a strong reputation in T20 cricket.
“The Blast is a competition I’ve always enjoyed during my previous spells in England with Hampshire. The standard is incredibly high, and the crowds bring a great atmosphere, which I am looking forward to experiencing at Emirates Old Trafford.
“I’m excited to get over to Manchester, meet the lads and play my part in what I hope will be a really successful season for us in T20 cricket.”
Speaking to LancsTV, Director of Cricket Performance Mark Chilton commented: “We’re really pleased with the signing. Ben is a player we have been targeting when assessing our options, so it is great to get the deal done and bring him to Emirates Old Trafford this summer.
“Ben is a very versatile batter in T20 cricket. He’s done a lot of batting in the top three during his career, but in more recent times he’s dropped into a four or five role, with a strong record against spin. Availability was another key parameter for us, and Ben being around for the whole competition meant that he was ticking a lot of boxes and was right at the top of our shortlist.
“He comes with lots of good references, including from Chris Green, who he will play alongside this summer, so we’re looking forward to welcoming him to the Club.”
Chilton's full reaction to the signing is available to watch now on LancsTV, by clicking here.
Introducing...War of the Roses: Friday 10 July, 2026
Lancashire Lightning & Thunder v Yorkshire
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Two counties play in one historic rivalry, but the stakes are higher than ever as Emirates Old Trafford hosts the first Roses T20 double-header with both Lancashire Thunder and Lightning taking part in the unmissable clash. Expect an experience like no other, the biggest game in domestic cricket is here and we want you to be a part of it.
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