Bears sign international duo

Kumar Sangakkara is set for Edgbaston © Getty Images

Warwickshire have signed Sri Lanka wicket-keeper/batsman Kumar Sangakkara and South Africa seamer Dale Steyn for the 2007 season, subject to the pair passing medicals.

Sangakkara plans to join the Bears immediately after the Cricket World Cup and spend most of the summer at Edgbaston and he will replace Australian Martin Love, who had planned to join Warwickshire before suffering a serious knee injury last weekend.

Warwickshire director of coaching Mark Greatbatch said: “We are delighted to have secured one of the top players in the world so quickly after Martin Love’s injury.

“Kumar Sangakkara has had an outstanding 12 months and is ranked in the top 10 batsmen in the world in both forms of international cricket.

“He is looking forward to taking that sort of form into our domestic season.”

Steyn has also now agreed terms and will be available from the start of the season until June 3.

Greatbatch added: “We have a good crop of young bowlers at the club but we feel that Dale’s extra pace can add something to our attack and hopefully help us to build some early season momentum”.

Warwickshire hope to confirm that once Steyn returns home in June South Africa spinner Paul Harris will re-join the team after his success last summer.

Warwickshire chief executive Colin Povey said: “Paul’s selection for South Africa over recent weeks posed a bit of a problem but provided we are able to juggle our resources within the new regulations regarding overseas players we are keen to have him back.

“Last summer he performed exceptionally well and his confidence is high after his international selection. We hope he will carry on where he left off last season.”