Middlesex sign Ashton Agar for 2018 NatWest T20 Blast

English county Middlesex have added a feather to their cap with the acquisition of Australian all-rounder Ashton Agar for the 2018 edition of the NatWest T20 Blast. Agar, who will join the squad following the conclusion of Australia's series against England - 5 ODIs, 1 T20I - will be available for the entirety of the tournament.

"I’m thrilled and very grateful to have signed for Middlesex for the upcoming Blast campaign and look forward to the challenge of achieving success with them. It’s a great opportunity to play with an exciting group of players coached by Dan Vettori, a person I always looked up to as a young spinner and cricketer in general," said Agar.

“I can’t wait to walk out at Lord's, one of the most beautiful grounds in the world - it’s quite a privilege,” he added.

Middlesex have failed to lift the trophy since the 2008 edition and will hope that Agar will be able to give them the lift they need to go all the way this time around.

The 24-year-old is a handy all-rounder and has represented Australia in all formats of the game. In the domestic circuit, he has starred for the Perch Scorchers, playing an integral role in all of their title-winning campaigns.

"Ashton is developing into a high-quality cricketer. He has shown that he can bat at the top of the order and continues to be an effective bowler," Middlesex director Angus Fraser was quoted as saying.

"I am confident he will fit in to our squad well and produce match-winning performances."

Middlesex, who finished third from bottom in the South Group in the 2017 edition, begin their campaign against Surrey at Lord's on July 5th.

Ashton really turned on the style in this year's @BBL 😎Can't wait to see more of the same in the @VitalityBlast this Summer! ☀️#TeamMiddlesex #WelcomeAshton #Gun pic.twitter.com/G6MCdD7vVI

— Middlesex Cricket (@Middlesex_CCC) March 20, 2018