Siddle signs two-year deal with Nottinghamshire

Nottinghamshire have signed Australia seamer Peter Siddle on a two-year contract. The 30-year-old - who has played 57 Tests and taken 198 wickets at an average of 29.87 - will play four-day and 50-over cricket for the county throughout the English season.

Mick Newell, Nottinghamshire's director of cricket, believes Siddle, who claimed match figures of 6 for 67 in the final Ashes Test at the Kia Oval, will be ideal for conditions in the UK and will benefit the club's young bowlers with his experience.

"Peter brings high quality quick bowling and is a good fellow who fits in well with the team," Newell said. "He will provide leadership to our young bowling attack.

"If you look at the Ashes, he had some success at the Oval and Australia might regret not playing him in some of the earlier matches. He's very much suited to English conditions and we're certainly hoping to get the best out of him for the next couple of seasons."

Siddle is returning for a second spell with Notts having played 11 Championship matches for the county in 2014, taking 37 wickets at a modest average of 31.48 with no five-wicket hauls.

He played four games for Lancashire, then in Division Two, ahead of the 2015 Ashes, recording a more impressive haul of 18 wickets at 20.55.

"I really enjoyed my time at Trent Bridge in 2014 and I can't wait to come back," Siddle said. "Notts have had a strong batting line-up for a long time and with some young bowlers also coming through I'm excited by the way the squad is shaping up ahead of the new season."

Siddle made his Test debut in 2008, took an Ashes hat-trick in 2010 and has claimed four five-wicket hauls against England, including 5-50 at Trent Bridge in 2013. He is currently part of the Australia squad for the home series against New Zealand and will arrive at Trent Bridge following the conclusion of the Sheffield Shield season.