Spinner Ferley joins Nottinghamshire

Nottinghamshire have strengthened their spin department by signing Robert Ferley, the 24-year-old left-armer from Kent, as they aim to return to the first division in the Championship.

He picked up 54 first-class wickets with Kent from 26 matches at 42 apiece and also scored 502 runs at 18.59. Mick Newell, Nottinghamshire's director of cricket, said it's a move that is deliberately designed to boost their chances of an immediate return to the top flight.

He explained: "I think there's every chance that the pitches in Division Two will offer more to the spinners and there could be a number of occasions when we would want to go in with two of them.

"That may mean more opportunities for Samit Patel. But I see him as more of a batman who can bowl - so I'm delighted to welcome Robert on board.

"He's a specialist left-arm spinner who has learned his trade with Kent. The consistency of Min Patel is the only reason he hasn't figured more in their first-team over the years and I think he is good enough to give serious competition to Graeme Swann."

Ferley is excited by the challenge but said it was hard to leave Canterbury. "It's a brilliant move at this stage of my career and I just hope it works out as well for me as it has for Mark Ealham.

"Kent offered me a new two-year deal and I was ready to sign because I've been very happy there. But once I discovered that Notts were interested, I knew that it was the right move for me.

"It's a wrench to leave in some respects but I've been hanging on for years, waiting to take over from Min Patel. He keeps saying it will be his last season but then he comes back fitter than ever and keeps taking wickets. That's great for Kent but has obviously made it frustrating for me.

Ferley is Nottinghamshire's second signing -opener Will Jefferson arrived from Essex last month - and it is expected that Newell will further strength his squad in the coming weeks. Nottinghamshire were embarrassingly relegated on the last day of the season after needed just seven points from their last two matches to stay up.