Worcestershire have snapped up exciting Australian batsman and Big Bash star Travis Head as their main overseas player for the 2018 season.

Head will link up with the County for the start of the campaign in the Specsavers County Championship and be available to play in all formats right through to mid September apart from Australia’s five ODIs and one T20 against England half-way through the season.

The County are actively seeking to bring in another leading overseas player to fill this gap in mid-season and for the two final County Championship matches of the summer and hope to make an announcement in the near future.

Twenty-four-year-old Head has just skippered Adelaide Strikers to a Big Bash triumph, scoring 85 not out in the semi-final win over Melbourne Renegades and an unbeaten 44 in the final triumph over Hobart Hurricanes on his home ground in Adelaide.

Head is a regular member of his country’s side in white ball cricket, having played in 34 ODI’s and nine T20Is and recently scored 96 for Australia in the fourth ODI of the home series against England.

But the left hander is also hungry to play Test cricket and has been encouraged by Cricket Australia to broaden his experience by playing county cricket this summer – with Worcestershire swooping to obtain his signature.

Worcestershire Vice-Chairman and former opener, Tim Curtis, has been heading up the County’s campaign to fill the various overseas player slots this summer.

He said: “We are delighted to have signed Travis after obtaining a heads of agreement from Cricket Australia.

“Travis will start the season with us in April and will be with us right through to and including T20 finals day on September 15.

“He will miss two Championship games in June when Australia have a ODI Series and a T20I against England over here.

“He has just captained Adelaide Strikers to the Big Bash title after playing a big part with the bat in the final and semi-final and played that fine innings against England in a recent ODI.

“But he is ambitious to play Test cricket and Cricket Australia have encouraged him and other young players to play cricket this summer.

“He is hungry to do well and play all types of cricket and he also spoke to Mo (Moeen Ali) in Australia and he gave him positive vibes about coming to Worcestershire.

“In addition to his batting, Travis is keen to develop his spin bowling and certainly in white ball cricket he is used in that role by the Strikers.”