Heat snap up Parry

Brisbane Heat have strengthened their Lancashire connection by bringing in left-arm spinner Stephen Parry as one of their overseas players. Parry, who has played five times for England, will replace Daniel Vettori, with the veteran spinner set to depart for New Zealand's limited-overs commitments against Sri Lanka.

Parry is something of a limited-overs specialist, having only played nine first-class games in seven years, and has previously experienced grade cricket in Australia. It was during a stint in Perth last winter that he learned about his call-up to England's World T20 squad for Bangladesh.

He was also part of the Lancashire side that reached the final of the 2014 NatWest T20 Blast. He was in the middle as Lancashire narrowly failed to overhaul Warwickshire's score, batting alongside his new Heat team-mate Andrew Flintoff, who has extended his comeback with a first BBL contract. Parry's signing is another example of Heat coach, Stuart Law, using his old Lancashire contacts.

"He's a good lad and a seasoned competitor for Lancashire,'' Law said. "He's a solid all-round cricketer so we expect him to slot in and play a similar role as the one Dan performed for us."

The Heat, champions in 2012-13, are currently second from bottom of this year's BBL table, having won one of their four games.