Essex sign Siddle for early-season Chelmsford stint

Australian seamer Peter Siddle has joined Essex for the first five games of the new County Championship season

^{Essex have signed Peter Siddle}

Australian seamer Peter Siddle has joined Essex for the first five games of the new County Championship season.

Siddle, a veteran of 62 Tests for Australia, will add extra firepower to the county champions' already potent ranks and is available for matches against Yorkshire (twice), Lancashire, Hampshire and Worcestershire.

The 33-year-old has previously been on the books of Nottinghamshire and is looking forward to his return to the English domestic scene.

Siddle said: "I am delighted to sign for Essex. I have heard very good things about the club and the quality of the playing squad and look forward to contributing strongly towards the title defence during the first few weeks of the season.

PETER SIDDLE'S FIRST CLASS STATS

Matches: 138

Wickets: 456

Average: 28.37

Best: 9-77

"I’ve enjoyed my previous experiences of county cricket and can’t wait to get underway at Chelmsford.”

Essex coach Anthony McGrath said: "Peter is someone with proven quality at the highest level. He is vastly experienced and is a player who won’t just deliver on the pitch but will help our younger bowlers as well.

"He recently played in one of the best international teams around, and we are looking forward to picking his brains and seeing what else we can produce as a bowling unit with his help.

"Darren Lehmann spoke glowingly about him as a person and a bowler when I spoke to him recently, so we are looking forward to him joining us and making a real impact in the opening weeks of the season."

^{Siddle is available for five Championship games}