Lancashire are in talks to sign the World Cup winner James Faulkner as their overseas replacement for the fast bowler Peter Siddle.
The 30-year-old Siddle was a surprise inclusion for Australia’s touring party to play West Indies in June before arriving in England for this summer’s Ashes series.
It has left Lancashire, under their new head coach, Ashley Giles, searching for a replacement with only a fortnight to go before their County Championship Division Two campaign begins at Derbyshire on 19 April.
And now the Guardian understands they have turned their attention to the 24-year-old Faulkner, who missed out on selection for the senior Australia side and will not tour India with their A team in July.
While a deal is yet to be struck, Lancashire hope the left-arm fast-bowling all-rounder – the man of the match in last Sunday’s World Cup final win against New Zealand with figures of 3 for 36 – could prove a box-office signing in all three formats this summer.
