Smith wings into Worcestershire

Steven Smith made his anticipated debut for Australia last week, taking two wickets against Pakistan at the MCG

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Worcestershire have bolstered their spin options with the signing of Australia all-rounder Steven Smith for this season’s Friends Provident t20, subject to clearance by Cricket Australia.

The 20-year-old New South Wales leg-spinner made his full international debut in the one-off Twenty20 match against Pakistan in Melbourne last week, taking the wickets of Fawad Alam and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan.

Smith will serve as the Royals’ second overseas player in the Twenty20 competition, initially alongside compatriot Phil Jaques, and later Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan.

Worcestershire director of cricket Steve Rhodes said: “I have been watching Steve’s progress over the last year and I have spoken to Phil Jaques about him.

“There is no doubt he is a highly talented young player who has already proved he can perform on the big occasion.

“We are determined to improve our Twenty20 performances this year and we are allowed two overseas players in this competition.

“We will be a young squad and I know Steve will fit in with what we want to achieve. His is a very exciting signing.”

Smith made his New South Wales debut in the 2007-08 season, and was a key part of the Blues sides that won the KFC Twenty20 Big Bash and the Champions League Twenty20 in 2009.

He has genuine batting ability, having scored a number of centuries for the Australia Institute of Sport, and latterly a maiden first-class hundred against Queensland in December.