Essex swoop for Australian pair

The Aussie duo will complement Kiwi Andre Adams at Essex

Essex have signed Australian bowlers Mitchell Johnson and Andy Bichel to share overseas duties for 2006.

They join New Zealand all-rounder Andre Adams, with Johnson playing from the start of the season until 17 June and Bichel taking over mid-season.

Bichel, 35, has had spells at Worcestershire and Hampshire.

"We've gone with a raw player with potential in Johnson and experience in Bichel who can also whack it with the bat," skipper Ronnie Irani said.

Essex chief executive David East revealed that combative South African Andre Nel had been approached about a return to the county but the United Cricket Board of South Africa dismissed the move.

A similar situation arose with leg-spinner Danish Kaneria, with Essex hoping to secure his services for the early part of the season before Pakistan's tour of England, but the PCB also declined.

"I think it is becoming more and more difficult to secure international bowlers, particularly fast bowlers, because the home boards are very concerned about overworking them," East told the club's website.

Bichel played the last of his 19 Tests in December 2003, having taken 58 wickets.

He was more of a fixture in the one-day team, taking 78 wickets and averaging over 20 with the bat in 67 matches, the last of which was in 2004.

Johnson, 24, a highly-rated left-armer, made his one-day international debut as a supersub in a recent match against New Zealand and played in the first match of the current series in South Africa.

Bichel will replace him at Essex when he tours with the Australia A side.