Chris Silverwood leaves Yorkshire after 13 years with the club © Cricinfo Ltd

Chris Silverwood, the former England fast bowler, has been released from his contract with Yorkshire by mutual consent and has signed for Middlesex.

Silverwood made his debut for Yorkshire in 1996 and was one of a battery of fast bowlers which the county produced in the late 1990s. Darren Gough, Ryan Sidebottom and Steve Kirby all learned their trade at Yorkshire but have since moved on, leaving the club worryingly bereft of experience in their pace attack.

Yorkshire's loss is Middlesex gain, however, and Silverwood will play a crucial role for the London club who themselves have lost a number of important fast bowlers in recent years.

"We are very excited that Chris Silverwood has joined Middlesex," John Emburey, Middlesex's coach, told the club's website. "He gives our bowling squad the aggression that we have lacked in recent years and his experience will be of huge benefit to the younger players on the fringe of the first eleven.

"He is still ambitious and believes that a good season with Middlesex could lead to him getting back into the England side," he added. "At 30 he still has several good years in him and he is looking forward to the challenges ahead."