Peter Siddle joins English county side Essex

"Essex County Cricket Club are delighted to announce that Peter Siddle has signed a two-year contract with the Club," the club said in a statement.

The Australian has made a huge impression both on and off the field during his two spells at Essex this season and has committed his future until the end of the 2020 campaign.

This week’s match against Surrey at The Cloudfm County Ground was his final appearance this year before heading back to Australia, but he’s already excited about the prospect of spending a full summer in Chelmsford next season.

Siddle commented: “I have loved my time at the Club so far with the players and staff giving me a great welcome, and I really feel part of the team at Essex.

“As an overseas player, I am always committed to taking the whole experience in and not just picking up my money and being on my way at the end of a contract.

“There is a wealth of talent in this squad who are hungry for more success and I am thrilled that I can join them for a further two season and be part of it.

“I’m also really excited to play alongside Cooky [Alastair Cook], we’ve had some really great battles in the past and it’s going to be fun to play on the same side as him rather than against him.”

Anthony McGrath said: “We are ecstatic that Peter has agreed to be with us for a further two years. We have all seen the qualities he brings to this squad and complements our bowling attack perfectly.

“He has a wealth of experience and the professional attitude he applies every time he heads out onto the field is commendable, as well as being a great person to have around the Club off the field.”

Image: Essex Twitter page