Lyon the latest to join county cricket's Aussie influx

Australia spinner Nathan Lyon has agreed a deal to become Hampshire's overseas player in next season's County Championship.

Lyon, who is third on the list of all-time Test wicket-takers for Australia, was a major part of the squad which this year retained the Ashes with a drawn series in England.

The 31-year-old will represent Hampshire in red-ball cricket in 2020 and is delighted at the prospect of playing more cricket in England.

"I very much look forward to playing with Hampshire in next year's County Championship. It is a fabulous opportunity to be involved with a leading county who have had a long and successful relationship with Australian cricketers," Lyon told the Hampshire website.

"I love playing cricket in England and no doubt will enjoy the 2020 summer with the Hampshire players, coaches, members and supporters. We will all be focused on winning the County Championship in 2020 – I can't wait."

Lyon made his Test debut in 2011 and has gone on to win 91 caps and take 363 wickets – putting him behind only Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath on Australia's all-time list.

He previously played four County Championship games with Worcestershire in Division Two in 2017, but his Hampshire stint will mark his first foray into the 10-team Division One.

Hampshire's director of cricket Giles White added: "Nathan is a really high-class spinner and we identified him in the summer as someone who would be a great addition to our Championship side.

"He has a real appetite for county cricket and is keen to be a part of what we're trying to do here, so we're delighted to secure his signature and we can't wait to have him on board next summer.

"If you look at our bowling attack at the moment, the gap has maybe been taking wickets with spinners.

With a new groundsman in Simon Lee also joining the club, having worked at Somerset, it all seemed to fit to bring in a high-class spinner for red-ball cricket too.

"Nathan's addition makes for a well-balanced attack. In order to win County Championships, which we want to do, we need to take 20 wickets regularly."

Lyon is the latest Australian to sign on for next year's county season.

Australian T20 squad member Sean Abbott has signed on to play up to 10 County Championship games with Derbyshire next season in a deal for the first-half of the season, and could also feature in T20 games for the county. 

Lyon's fellow Ashes tourist and Queensland Bulls seamer Michael Neser has signed on to join London county Surrey for the first half of the season.

Neser said: "It has been a long-held ambition of mine to play county cricket. To be able to do so at The Oval alongside some fabulous players is obviously hugely exciting for me. I look forward to contributing and helping the guys challenge at the top of the County Championship in 2020."

Surrey have also signed D'Arcy Short for their domestic T20 competition, which will run separate from the new 'Hundred' concept being played in England next winter.

South Australia captain Travis Head will join Sussex for the entire 2020 season, playing all formats for the Jason Gillespie-coached county.

"We wanted a top-four batsman to improve our team and Travis will do that," said Gillespie, who also coaches Head at the Adelaide Strikers in the KFC BBL.

"He's shown his class in his international career so far, he brings some useful off-spin and he will offer good leadership support to our captains from his time leading South Australia and the Strikers.

"We also felt it was important to sign an overseas batsman that would be able to join us for most of the season and give us some continuity."

Cameron Bancroft will return to Durham where he captained the side in 2019, while Peter Siddle will again play for Essex and Sean Abbott has been picked up by Derbyshire. Peter Handscomb is reportedly a target for Middlesex.