Silverwood set for Middlesex move

Chris Silverwood, the former England seamer, is set to sign for Middlesex after being told he has no future with Yorkshire. Silverwood has two years left on his contract at Headingley, but has been allowed to look for opportunities elsewhere.

According to the Yorkshire Post his early release from Yorkshire could result in a five-figure payout and means Silverwood will join the list of frontline pace bowlers to have left the county. In recent years Darren Gough, Ryan Sidebottom and Steve Kirby have moved on, leaving Yorkshire struggling for strike bowlers.

However, they have signed Jason Gillespie for the 2006 season and are now aiming to build their attack around him, Tim Bresnan and Deon Kruis in their first season back in Division One of the County Championship.

Silverwood has played six Tests for England, the most recent being on 2002-03 Ashes tour when he bolstered an injury-hit squad for the third Test at Perth. However, he played just six Championship matches in 2005, taking nine wickets at 53 apiece.