Baker - Wantage Road bound Photo CricInfo

Northamptonshire have moved to strengthen their attack for next season by signing fast bowlers Ben Phillips, Carl Greenidge and Tom Baker.

The trio have agreed two-year contracts and will join two other close-season acquisitions – all-rounder Michael Cawdron and wicketkeeper/batsman Gerard Brophy – at Wantage Road in 2002.

Phillips, 27, made his debut for Kent in 1996 but was ruled out for the whole 1999 campaign with a broken collarbone, and a stress fracture of the back kept him on the sidelines for all but a handful of games in 2000.

His cricket last season was restricted by hamstring trouble to a few appearances for Kent 2nd XI, but he is currently playing in Queensland for Matthew Hayden's club side.

Director of Cricket Bob Carter said: "Ben has been plagued by injury for the last couple of years, but he has shown in the past that he has the potential to be a high-class performer.

"We hope he'll make the most of the opportunities that we can offer him here at Northampton."

Phillips produced both his best batting and bowling returns to date in 1997, snapping up 5-47 against Sussex at Horsham and hitting an unbeaten 100 – as nightwatchman - off the Lancashire attack at Old Trafford.

Greenidge, 23, is the son of the former West Indies batting great Gordon, and took eight wickets on his County Championship debut for Surrey against Yorkshire at The Oval in 1999.

Last season he made four Norwich Union League appearances for Surrey Lions but was unable to force his way into the four-day side.

The youngest of the County newcomers at 20, Dewsbury-born Baker figured in three of Yorkshire's Benson and Hedges Cup qualifiers in 2001, but missed seven weeks of the season with a broken right elbow.

He came on trial to Northamptonshire during the summer and captured five wickets in his only outing for the County seconds.

Carter added: "Tom swings the ball and we see him as a long-term prospect. We wouldn't necessarily expect him to go straight into the first team squad, but he has a lot of potential.

"I know Yorkshire thought highly of him but it was obviously going to be difficult for him to break into the side up there.

"As far as Carl is concerned, I know a number of other counties were interested in getting him. So we're obviously delighted that he's decided to come to Northamptonshire in preference to anywhere else."

Cawdron signed for the County last month after being released by Gloucestershire at the end of the season, while South African-born Brophy – who qualifies for county cricket through his British passport – is set to shadow Toby Bailey behind the stumps following the retirement of long-serving 'keeper David Ripley.

© Northamptonshire CCC