DURHAM have re-signed Australia international Ashton Turner for this summer’s Vitality Blast tournament.

Turner will link back up with Durham after a dislocated shoulder prevented him from making a major impact in last year’s domestic T20 competition. He replaces Tristan Stubbs, who will no longer be joining Durham following his recent call-up for South Africa A’s tour of Sri Lanka, but will not skipper the side this time around, with Alex Lees set to wear the captain’s armband during the Blast.

A proven captain and run scorer with Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash League, Turner returns to Seat Unique Riverside on the back of another outstanding summer in Australia where he guided the Scorchers to their fifth BBL title.

His unbeaten 47-ball 84 in the semi-final, backed up by 53 in the final, saw him named Player of the Match in both games in a season where he averaged 42 and scored 381 runs with four half-centuries.

It is not only in the white ball arena where Turner has excelled this summer, he scored a first-class career best 128 against Victoria to help Western Australia win the Sheffield Shield and also skippered Western Australia to Marsh Cup victory, meaning he has enjoyed a triple trophy-winning season.

The tall, powerful right-hander is a regular in the top four of the order with the Scorchers, where has scored over 2,000 runs since making his debut against Melbourne Renegades in 2013.

On returning to Durham, Turner said: “I’m excited to be joining up with Durham again for this year’s Blast campaign.

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“We have an exciting squad, and we have high expectations for the group this year. Hopefully, we can achieve some success and have some fun along the way.”

Turner has played both formats of white-ball cricket for Australia, making an unbeaten 84 from 43 balls against India in just his second game for the national side.

In addition to his powerful top-order batting, the 30-year-old has also taken 26 T20 wickets with his right-arm off-break bowling, with a best of 2-3 in domestic T20 and 2-12 for Australia.

Durham director of cricket, Marcus North, said: “It is great to news to have Ashton returning to Durham this season, he joins us on the back of an outstanding season for Perth Scorchers and Western Australia, where his experience and leadership skills have once again been evident for all to see. I look forward to him joining up with the Durham ahead of the Blast.”

Durham begin their T20 campaign this Friday with an away game against Northamptonshire, before heading to Headingley to take on Yorkshire on Sunday.