Friday 9 December 2016 09:27, UK
Sussex have signed South Africa fast bowler Vernon Philander for the opening months of the 2017 season.
The 31-year-old, who has played 37 Test matches for the Proteas, will be available for Sussex's first six Specsavers County Championship matches, and the entire group stage of the Royal London One-Day Cup tournament.
Philander has previously played county cricket for Middlesex in 2008, Somerset in 2012, Kent in 2013 and Nottinghamshire in 2015.
He has taken 142 wickets in Test cricket at an average of 22.21 and has also claimed 41 wickets in his 30 one-day international appearances.
"I'm really looking forward to getting to Hove and playing for Sussex for the first couple of months of the English season," Philander said. "Although I haven't come up against Sussex much in my time playing in England, I've always heard good things about the club and set-up.
"Hopefully I can put in some good performances to help the team in both red and white ball cricket, and pass on my experience to some of the younger players who I've heard such positive reports about."
Sussex's head coach Mark Davis said: "I am thrilled to have Vernon joining us for the first two months of the season. He is one of the leading bowlers in world cricket and to have him bowling in English conditions is a very exciting prospect from the club.
"His international experience with both bat and ball will be invaluable to our young players and we are looking forward to him joining us in April."
