Siddle signs to bring extra silverware hope
Somerset County Cricket Club have announced the signing of Australian fast bowler Peter Siddle.
The experienced paceman is another high profile signing for the club and demonstrates the ambition the county has for the upcoming season.
The 37-year-old is an expert in English conditions, having claimed 146 First Class wickets from 36 matches for Nottinghamshire, Lancashire and Essex in previous seasons.
During his illustrious career he has won the Ashes, the BBL and the English County Championship. Siddle has taken over 200 Test wickets including eight five-wicket hauls.
A genuine multi-format bowler, he has claimed a total of 669 First Class wickets at an average of 26.68 with a best of eight for 54. Siddle has also excelled in white-ball cricket, taking 89 T20 wickets at 23.60 with a best of 5-16. In addition, he has 86 List A wickets at an average of 31.51 and a best of 4-27.
He will join Somerset until at least the end of August and will be available for all three formats during that time.
After signing, Siddle 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.”
Somerset will begin their County Championship campaign on April 7 with a trip to Hampshire before their first home game against Essex the following week. The Championship will run all the way through, with a break in August, until September 26 with a final match at
Kent coming six days after their final match at home to Northamptonshire.
The 20th edition of the Vitality T20 Blast will see a rematch of last year’s final as Somerset travel to Kent Spitfires in the South Group on May 25. The competition will run across seven weeks with Finals Day on July 16. Somerset’s home fixtures will be against Essex Eagles on May 29, Sussex Sharks on June 1, Glamorgan on June 3, Kent on June 10, Gloucestershire on June 17, Hampshire Hawks on June 23 and Surrey on July 3.
In the Royal London One Day Cup featuring across August will begin with Somerset at home to Notts Outlaws on Thursday the fourth, followed by a trip to Gloucestershire three days later. Somerset will place eight games in 19 days before the play-offs take place on August 26. The semi-finals are scheduled for August 30, with the final on September 17.
In the women’s game, Lord’s is set to host the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy final on September 25.
Western Storm will begin at Loughborough Lightning on July 2 before hosting Sparks in Bristol seven days later. A trip to Sunrisers follows on July 16, with Storm hosting Stars at Cheltenham on July 23. They visit Vipers on September 9 before a final home game in Taunton against Diamonds two days later and a trip to Thunder to finish on September 17.
In the Charlotte Edwards Cup, Storm will open at home against Sparks at Sophia Gardens on May 14 before travelling to Sunrisers four days later and Stars on May 21. Taunton will be the venue for the home game against Sunrisers on May 29, before moving to Bristol on June 1 for the visit of Stars. The return fixture against Sparks takes place on June 4.