Nottinghamshire have moved quickly to secure George Linde for the entire 2026 Vitality Blast, while Lancashire have turned to Australian seamer Mitchell Perry for the first six County Championship rounds.
Nottinghamshire first. The Outlaws wanted another frontline spinner who can bat and, on paper at least, Linde ticks both boxes. The left-armer, now 34, will be available from the opening fixture in May through to the knockout stages in July, the Blast having been squeezed into a tighter window next summer.
Linde is hardly short of travel miles. Since debuting for the Cape Cobras a decade ago he has popped up in SA20, the CPL, the PSL, Major League Cricket, and, of course, two seasons with Kent. Twenty-six wickets in 27 Blast appearances for Kent read solid rather than spectacular, yet Trent Bridge staff did see a sharper version of him last August when he helped Trent Rockets reach The Hundred final.
“It’s a great opportunity to play for Notts Outlaws, and I’m very excited to be coming back to the Blast, which is a competition that is a lot of fun to play in,” Linde said. “I’m looking forward to joining up with the team, and I’ll be aiming to contribute with bat and ball as we look to return to the knockout stages!
“I’m really excited to return to Trent Bridge, which I had a lot of fun calling home with the Rockets last year. It’s a great venue, and I’m really excited to join a new team that has a very strong past record in T20 cricket.”
Head coach Peter Moores is equally upbeat. “I’m excited that George has agreed to join us for the entire Blast season next summer. He has the ability to bowl at any stage of the innings, as well as being a powerful left-handed middle-order batter,” Moores said. “George will add valuable experience to an already-talented spin group, making sure we’re covered for all conditions during the Blast. After spending some time with him at the Rockets, it was clear he has a real hunger to play in the Blast again after his first experience with Kent. We can’t wait to welcome him as part of our team.”
Notts should start 2026 with Linde, Matt Carter and Calvin Harrison competing for overs, plus Joe Clarke and Alex Hales providing top-order power. As ever in T20, balance will be key; Linde’s left-arm angle offers variety both with the ball and in the lower-middle order.
Across the Pennines, Lancashire have opted for a short-term overseas signing, confirming Perry will cover the opening two-month Championship block while overseas all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme continues rehabilitation from injury.
Perry, 25, is a familiar name on the Sheffield Shield scorecards. With Victoria he has taken 140 first-class wickets at 29.32—numbers that suggest he should enjoy a Dukes ball, especially in early April when conditions generally favour seam movement. Five half-centuries hint at useful lower-order runs, handy insurance during the English spring when pitches can still be capricious.
“I’m really excited to join Lancashire for the 2026 County Championship,” Perry said. “It’s a huge opportunity for me, and playing county cricket is something I’ve always wanted to experience. Lancashire is a club with a proud history and a strong squad, and I’m looking forward to contributing on and off the field.
“I have heard great things from my Victoria team-mate Marcus Harris. I can’t wait to get over to Emirates Old Trafford, meet the boys, and get stuck into a big red-ball season.”
Director of cricket performance Mark Chilton believes the right-armer slots neatly into the existing attack. “We’re really pleased to bring a talented bowler in Mitch to Lancashire for our first block of red-ball matches in the 2026 season. We have seen the strength in depth of Australia’s seam bowling ranks, and the impact they’ve had on county cricket in recent seasons, and Mitch comes to us highly recommended,” Chilton said. “His skillset with the ball is well suited to English conditions, and we believe he will complement our existing attack perfectly. He will also strengthen the lower order batting which fits the profile of player we have been looking to.”
Lancashire’s seam group—James Anderson, Tom Bailey, George Balderson, and Jack Blatherwick among them—already looks healthy. Perry offers an extra burst of pace and a fresh set of ideas, albeit for six matches rather than an entire campaign. If he settles quickly, both parties may be tempted to extend.
Early-season signings rarely guarantee success but they do remove some guesswork. Nottinghamshire trust Linde’s all-round package to deliver a genuine tilt at Blast finals day; Lancashire, eyeing a first Championship title since 2011, believe Perry can start their campaign on the right length—just back of a good one, nipping away.
