Jack Brooks: Somerset sign Yorkshire seamer on three-year deal

Jack Brooks' career-best bowling figures are his 6-65 for Yorkshire at Lord's against Middlesex in 2016

Somerset have signed Yorkshire seamer Jack Brooks on a three-year contract starting next season.

Brooks, 34, has spent six seasons at Headingley after moving from Northants, playing a key role in winning the County Championship with the Tykes in successive years, in 2014 and 2015.

"Jack is a winner by nature," said director of cricket Andy Hurry.

"He still possesses a fierce desire to win trophies. He made a tremendous first impression when we first spoke."

Hurry added: "There is a heavy schedule of international cricket next summer and we could lose one or more of our pace bowlers to England call-ups. We also know from experience that injuries can deplete our attack. Recruiting Jack will guard against those eventualities.

"To succeed in attracting a player of Jack's experience, ability and character from a county like Yorkshire shows how Somerset are now being perceived as a force in the domestic game."

Jack Brooks on Twitter

The former Northants fast bowler, who has taken 409 first-class wickets in 114 matches at an average of 27.52, has also taken 37 List A wickets and 47 wickets in the T20 Blast. He also has a first-class century to his name, his unbeaten 109 against Lancashire in the Roses Match at Old Trafford in 2017.

His exit from Headingley will coincide with the end-of-season departures of opener Alex Lees, 25, to Durham and England fast bowler Liam Plunkett, 33, to Surrey, while there remains speculation over 30-year-old England leg-spinner Adil Rashid's future.

Yorkshire have already made two signings for next season, Surrey fast bowler Mathew Pillans, 27, and Warwickshire leg-spinner Josh Poysden, 27, who has already moved to Headingley early.

Former England all-rounder Tim Bresnan 33, has also signed a new contract with the county until the end of the 2020 campaign.