Nathan Bracken joins Worcestershire

Nathan Bracken, the Australian left-arm swing bowler, has agreed to play for Worcestershire in 2006. Bracken, 28, will become the second Australian to move to New Road: Phil Jaques signed a two-year deal yesterday.

Bracken played three Tests for Australia in their 2003-04 series against India. But, against such a dominating batting line-up, he failed to make an impression and in 2004 was omitted from Cricket Australia's list of centrally-contracted players. He also spent a season with Gloucestershire in 2003, with whom he had agreed to rejoin next season, but they withdrew their offer. "I have agreed personal terms with Worcestershire and will definitely be signing a contract for 2006," he said. "I had agreed to go back to Gloucestershire this summer but in the end they decided to look elsewhere for an overseas player."

"Worcestershire then stepped in and offered a contract for the first half of this season but I was unavailable then because I was getting married. But I am available for the whole of next summer, and looking forward to having a successful season at New Road. The ball swings a lot in England and the wickets do a bit and any fast bowler is happy when the ball swings and seams."

Bracken is part of the Australian one-day squad for the current ICC Super Series against the World XI and was a key figure in New South Wales's victorious Sheffield Shield campaign.