Siddle joins Somerset on all-format deal for 2022 season

Somerset have signed Peter Siddle as an all-format overseas player for the 2022 season. Siddle, 37, will be available until early August, with Somerset becoming his fourth county team after previous spells with Nottinghamshire, Lancashire and, most recently, Essex.

The veteran Australian quick is Somerset's third overseas signing for 2022 after Matt Renshaw - his Adelaide Strikers team-mate - and South African Marchant de Lange, with only two permitted in the playing XI in each format. Siddle looks set to play alongside de Lange in the T20 Blast, and is likely to start the season playing with Renshaw in the County Championship after de Lange underwhelmed with the red ball last year, taking 20 wickets at 34.25.

Andy Hurry, the club's director of cricket, said that the decision to sign an extra seamer was a nod to the possibility of England call-ups for the likes of Craig Overton and Lewis Gregory.

"We have taken some very valuable learnings from the 2021 season, and one of those is the demands that the domestic and international schedule is placing on the players and our squad," he said. "With a very busy international schedule and anticipated call-ups, we needed to recruit an additional highly skilled bowler who is ready to perform this coming summer.

"This in turn will enable us to ensure that we can create the appropriate time and opportunities to nurture the development of our highly talented group of aspirational bowlers and embed the foundation skills required at the top level."

For his part, Siddle, who retired from international cricket in 2019, said, "Somerset are held in high regard within the game, and to get a chance to play for the club is something that I am really looking forward to.

"I've had some good games against Somerset over the years and now I'm looking forward to contributing to some wins for them. I enjoy playing in England and I would love to be able to play a part in Somerset winning some silverware, especially their first-ever County Championship."