Ashley Noffke

Noffke is an all-rounder with an uncomplicated bowling action which has often been compared to Glenn McGrath’s.

He was the leading wicket-taker in Brisbane first-grade cricket in 1997/98 and 1998/99 and continued his emergence with state side Queensland.

He was selected for the 2001 Ashes tour of England but did not play in a competitive match.

Noffke signed for Middlesex in 2002 and took a career-best 8-24 in 15 overs against Derbyshire, including a spell of 7-6 from 35 balls.

He represented Australia A against England and Sri Lanka in 2002/03 and was the only uncapped member of the Australia squad for the tour of the West Indies later that winter. Again, however, he was not selected in a competitive match.

He returned to Middlesex in 2003, featuring in a handful of matches in the middle of the season.

After more success in Australian domestic cricket he signed for Durham in 2006 but did not play a game due to injury.

He signed for Gloucestershire for the start of the 2007 season, as a replacement for Umar Gul, but again only made handful of appearances.

Noffke agreed to join Middlesex on a short-term contract for the first two months of the 2008 season, but was awarded a contract with Cricket Australia which prevented him honouring his commitment.

In 2007/8 he became only the third Australian to complete the double of 50 wickets and 500 runs in state cricket.

He made his Twenty20 international debut in December 2007 against New Zealand and his one-day international bow versus India in February 2008.

He signed for Worcestershire as their overseas player in 2009 having previously been approached by the county at the start of 2008.