Starc tipped for Bristol bow

Yorkshire are hopeful that Australia Test bowler Mitchell Starc will receive clearance to take his place in the side in early May.

The 22-year-old has been signed up to play as the Tykes' overseas player for the 2012 season after it emerged that batsman Phil Jaques would be able to participate on a domestic contract. He now needs to receive the green light from the Australia cricket authorities before joining his new team-mates at Headingley. Starc has burst on to the scene over the past few months, taking advantage of several injuries in the Aussie bowing ranks to claim 10 wickets at an average of 32.50 in four Tests and nine ODI scalps from seven games. He can bowl with genuine pace and has the ability to swing the ball, with early-season English conditions seemingly ideal for his style of bowling. The club expect the New South Wales star to arrive in time to play in their LV= County Championship match against Gloucestershire at Bristol on May 9 and released a statement to that effect. "Assuming that the required paperwork is obtained, Starc will fly from Sydney on May 4 and be available for selection for the LV= County Championship match against Gloucestershire at Bristol on May 9," the statement read. "Yorkshire will need a non-objection certificate from the Australian cricket board and to tie up the required work permits to add the Aussie to their 2012 squad." Starc will join up with former Aussie paceman Jason Gillespie, who is in his first year as Yorkshire coach, and could become a real star of the English domestic game this summer.