SIGNING for Essex has seen Rob Quiney achieve one of his cricketing ambitions.

The 30-year-old Australian top order batsman has inked a deal to play this summer and cannot wait to get started.

“I am delighted to have signed a contract to play for Essex this summer,” he said. “ “The 2012/13 season has been an amazing one for me, fulfilling my ambition of playing International cricket.

“And I am now able to achieve one of my other major cricketing ambitions by playing county cricket.”

Quiney has played for Victoria since 2006 and has two Test caps to his name after playing against South Africa last November.

The left-handed batsman, who bowls right arm medium pace, represented the Rajasthan Royals in the 2009 IPL tournament and Melbourne Starts in the 2011 big Bash.

Quiney has also been a member of Australia’s Twenty20 squad and he is now raring to go for Essex this season.

“Having spoken to Paul Grayson, I am very excited about the plans for Essex this season and I look forward to helping our drive to securing silverware in 2013,” he added.

Essex head coach Paul Grayson said: “It’s an exciting signing for the club. “Initially, he is coming over for the start of our season and will probably be with us until the end of the Friends Life t20 competition.

“We’ll revisit the situation then because obviously Australia are touring over here and he wants to try and make a big impression with them.”

Grayson said he had spoken to Quiney several times and said the player comes highly recommended.

“He’s desperate to play county cricket which is great for us and he comes across as an extremely good team player as well and we are delighted to bring him to the club,” he added.

“I’m sure he will have a positive impact on the team.” Quiney has scored more than 3,000 first-class runs at an average of 36.48 that includes seven centuries, 16 half-centuries and 1,766 runs in List A matches at 37.57. In 2011, Quiney was named Australia’s Domestic Player of the Year.