Australian quick Mark Steketee has been snapped up for a county championship burst for Yorkshire, with former England paceman Darren Gough believing his side have landed a "wonderful" mid-season boost with the Queenslander's signature.
The 29-year-old Australia A bowler, who has been on the fringe of international selection for some time, will team up with Pakistan star Shan Masood at Headingley on a short-term deal that will see him play four championship matches, starting with a contest against Gloucestershire later in June.
Steketee is no stranger to the county game, having played for Essex last year, including one match against his new team at Chelmsford.
Gough, who's now an energetic managing director of cricket at Yorkshire, is particularly enthusiastic about the signing, saying: "Mark is a very talented young player and has performed well in Australia.
"With the schedule Yorkshire have - the (20-over) Blast games followed quickly by Championship cricket - and current injuries in our ranks it was important that we strengthen the side in our bowling resources.
"Mark will be a wonderful addition to our current squad and help give a further boost to our Championship campaign."
Yorkshire announced the signing in the week that they picked up their first championship win of the season.
"We want to push on from here. Mark can bring something more to our bowling line-up," said Gough.
"We are still working hard on getting the balance right between youth and experience and we now feel we have got a squad where we have plenty of opportunities for everyone."
Like his Queensland pace colleague Michael Neser, who had an impressive campaign for Glamorgan before teaming up with the national squad, Steketee will also be in the right spot should any Ashes crisis befall the team's battery of quicks.
Between them, they took 78 wickets in the last Sheffield Shield campaign, with Neser second on the season's leading performers with 40 and Steketee third with 38.
