Worcestershire sign Steven Smith

Worcestershire have signed Steven Smith, the Australia legspinner, as an overseas player for the English Twenty20 Cup. Smith made his international debut in the Twenty20 international against Pakistan, at the MCG, where he impressed with 2 for 34 in Australia's two-run victory.

Smith has made a name for himself in Twenty20 cricket having helped New South Wales win the inaugural Champions League title in India last October. He was also New South Wales' leading wicket-taker during the 2009-10 Big Bash tournament with seven wickets 10.28

"I have been watching Steve's progress over the last year and I have spoken to Phil Jaques about him and there is no doubt he is a highly talented young player who has already proved he can perform on the big occasion," Steve Rhodes, Worcestershire's director of cricket, said.

"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."

Worcestershire already had Jaques and Shakib Al Hasan, the Bangladesh captain, on their books for the 2010 season. Smith's signing is subject to clearance from Cricket Australia.