Worcestershire sign Hastings for 2017

England county side Worcestershire have got in early to snap up paceman John Hastings as their overseas player for the 2017 season, as he follows in the footsteps of a number of Australians to have called New Road home.

Hastings, who's currently in Sri Lanka with Australia’s limited-overs squad, will join the likes of the late Phil Hughes, Glenn McGrath, Steve Smith, Andy Bichel, Tom Moody and Doug Bollinger when he takes to the field for Worcestershire next year.

The 30-year-old, after playing for Durham in 2014 and 2015, will return for his third stint in English domestic cricket in 2017.

"I am already looking forward to next summer and linking up with a club who are developing such an exciting group of young players,” Hastings said of Worcestershire, who currently sit fourth in Division Two of the County Championship as the 2016 season winds down.

"If I can help in any way with that development, I will be delighted.

"I have enjoyed my previous spells in county cricket and I am keen to contribute to Worcestershire in all formats of the game.

"In addition, I am looking forward to living in such a beautiful part of the world."

Hastings was due to join Durham for a third campaign in 2016 but pulled out after suffering an ankle injury in April during training for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League.

The fast-bowling allrounder, who made a solitary Test appearance against South Africa in 2012 and has played 28 limited-overs matches for Australia, is in Sri Lanka after being picked in the squad for the two T20 Internationals that follow the five ODIs.

Worcestershire director of cricket Steve Rhodes hopes to have Hastings for the majority of the 2017 northern summer and believes his previous experience in English conditions will hold him in good stead.

Quick Single: How the Duke roared back to life

"He is going to be available for a long part of the season, hopefully all of the season depending on international commitments,” Rhodes said of Hastings.

"His qualities are excellent. In 2015 he was fifth overall in the Professional Cricketers’ Association’s Most Valuable Player rankings (with Durham).

"He is renowned internationally as a T20-ODI player and is currently over with Australia in Sri Lanka. His all-round qualities for all formats, with bat and ball, are excellent.

"John will give us a little bit of pace with the new ball. He is a competitive character on the field but a champion of a bloke in the dressing room.

"He is someone I feel will really help our youngsters. He is a winner and a tough competitor and we look forward to him being with us subject to the normal clearances."