Ravichandran Ashwin will join Nottinghamshire for the second half of the Specsavers County Championship season.

Ashwin is India’s fourth leading wicket taker of all time in the Test arena having claimed 342 scalps at an average of 25.43, including 26 five-wicket hauls.

The 32-year-old has also amassed 2,361 runs at an average of 29.14 in his 65 Test matches to date, with a career-best of 124 coming against the West Indies in 2013.

The off-spinning all-rounder, who will take over as overseas player from James Pattinson at the end of June, is expected to feature in six of the final seven red ball matches.

Ashwin’s stint will start at home against Essex on Sunday 30 June, followed by matches against Somerset and Surrey.

He will miss the trip to Scarborough to face Yorkshire due to international commitments with India, but is expected to return to face Kent, Warwickshire and Surrey in the final three matches of the season.

“We knew what we wanted to sign and that was a world-class bowler,” said Nottinghamshire Director of Cricket, Mick Newell.

“Whether that was a fast or a slow bowler, we were prepared to look at all options.

“As it happens, we’ve signed a very good spinner, a very experienced spinner and one we hope can contribute with the bat as well.

“We’ve seen world-class slow bowlers have a huge match-winning effect in county cricket over many years.

“Ravi certainly has that potential – and we’re very much looking forward to welcoming him to the squad and letting him loose on our opposition.”

Ashwin’s Nottinghamshire stint will be his second in county cricket after featuring in four matches for Worcestershire in 2017.

Enjoying the late summer English conditions, the Chennai born twirler took 20 wickets at 29.15 for the Pears including 5-68 against Gloucestershire, as well as notching 214 runs at an average of 42.8.

“I’m really looking forward to joining up with Nottinghamshire, to playing cricket at an iconic venue like Trent Bridge and hopefully contributing to some County Championship victories,” said Ashwin.

“I enjoyed my previous stint in England with Worcestershire. It’s a good, competitive standard of cricket over there and I can’t wait to get started.”

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