Steketee to play county cricket after Pakistan tour

English county side Essex believe new Australian signing Mark Steketee can help power them to the championship crown again when he joins them next month.

Essex, for whom another Aussie quick Peter Siddle has become a stalwart figure in recent years, announced on Thursday that the 28-year-old Queenslander Steketee will play the first six matches of the County Championship campaign for them.

He's the current leading wicket-taker in this season's Marsh Sheffield Shield, with 32 victims in six matches at an average of 17.93, form which helped win him a place in the Test squad for Australia's current tour of Pakistan.

The uncapped Steketee, who was called up last month to replace the injured Michael Neser, will link up with Essex next month is expected to play in their season opener against Kent, starting on April 7.

The third Test in Pakistan is scheduled to finish on March 25 and Steketee plans to return home if Queensland qualify for this season's Shield final (March 31 to April 4) before heading abroad again to join Essex.

Essex believe the man who helped Queensland to a couple of Sheffield Shield titles in recent years could be just the boost they need after an underwhelming 2021 campaign.

"I'm delighted we've managed to get this deal over the line and add Mark to the squad for the first half of the upcoming campaign," said Essex Cricket Chief Executive John Stephenson.

"We feel Mark will give us the extra flair and depth needed to push for the Championship title." 

The ever-consistent Siddle, who played for the club in three of the last four seasons but who has now signed for another English county Somerset, is a hard act to follow. 

But Steketee said: "I'm really pleased to be joining up. 

"I've always wanted to get over to England to play some county cricket. A lot of my teammates in Australia have had the opportunity to play in the county championship and all of them only have positive things to say.

"I've got big shoes to fill, as I know how much Sids enjoyed playing here and the energy he brought to the team. Hopefully I'll be able to match that and help Essex get off to a strong start."

Essex coach Anthony McGrath said the club had identified Steketee as someone they wanted some time ago and recognised that "his numbers for Queensland this year are phenomenal."