Sussex swoop for Sandri

Sussex have signed South African bowler Pepler Sandri on a one-year contract, pending approval from the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Sandri, 26, holds an Italian passport and ,if his signature is ratified by the ECB on April 8, he will not count as an overseas player.

The Cape Cobras seamer has taken 72 first-class wickets at an average of 28.41 and his imminent arrival has been hailed by professional cricket manager Mark Robinson.

Robinson said: “Pepler is someone we’ve been tracking for a couple of seasons now and we’ve been alerted to the fact that he wants to come over and live in England.

“We sent Mark Davis over recently to have a look and meet him. Mark came back with a very favourable report and recommended that we gave him a one-year contract to see how he adapts to English conditions.

“We’re excited to have him on board as he gives us the potential to have somebody a bit different, who can possibly be with us for the next four or five years.”