He swings the ball, he gets bounce and he bowls with decent pace - he's got a lot to offer Mick Newell on Ben Phillips

Nottinghamshire director of cricket Mick Newell expects new signing Ben Phillips to play an integral role in all competitions next season.

The 36-year-old seamer took 65 wickets for Somerset during the 2010 campaign.

And with Ryan Sidebottom leaving, and Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann likely to be away with England, Newell wanted a reliable and versatile replacement.

"We needed a bit of experience and an all-round cricketer. He's going to play all forms of the game," Newell said.

Phillips joined County Champions Notts on a two-year contract in November and Newell believes the new recruit's bowling style will fit in well.

"He's a bowler who should be suited to playing at Trent Bridge," Newell said.

"He swings the ball, he gets bounce and he bowls with decent pace - he's got a lot to offer in four-day cricket."

Sidebottom's move to Yorkshire meant Newell was short of bowling options but Phillips' arrival has also been accompanied by the news that fast-bowler Charlie Shreck has signed a new contract

And Newell said having a strong bowling unit to choose from is vital to their gameplan.

"At Trent Bridge we like to play a lot of quick bowlers, that suits our style," Newell added.

"We need to have a lot quick bowlers in our squad because we like to rotate them around and share the workload.

"It's important that we keep seven or eight that we can call on at anytime because we're going to play four every match."

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