Bears sign spinner Rocchiccioli on short-term deal

Corey Rocchiccioli has played for Western Australia, Australia A and Melbourne Stars and Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League

Warwickshire have signed Australian off-spinner Corey Rocchiccioli to cover the next four County Championship matches.

The 27-year-old has been brought in to use his experience of playing with the Kookaburra ball for the fixtures against Somerset and Sussex this month and Worcestershire and Essex in July.

The Kookaburra ball is used in Australia and has a less prominent seam which usually offers less movement to the bowlers than the Dukes ball, which is normally used in England.

The switch in the ball type was introduced in the County Championship in 2023.

"We are very excited about welcoming Corey into our squad through June and July," Bears first-team coach Ian Westwood said.

"He is a proven performer in Sheffield Shield cricket, and with his experience of the Kookaburra ball, we know he will make an impact for us."

Rocchiccioli has taken 114 wickets in 34 first-class games for his home state Western Australia, and finished the recent Sheffield Shield season as the third highest wicket-taker with 38, including a career-best 7-52 against Queensland in February.

Warwickshire are the second county to bring in an overseas player on a short-term deal after Hampshire signed India white-ball batter Tilak Varma to cover the same block of four matches.

Warwickshire are currently fourth in Division One of the County Championship after the first seven matches, 22 points behind leaders Nottinghamshire.

After Friday's T20 Blast derby against Worcestershire Rapids, they return to red-ball action against Somerset on Sunday, 22 June.