Vishwa Fernando joins Warwickshire on short-term contract and will be available for three first-class matches in April.
Vishwa Fernando, the Sri Lanka left-arm seamer, has signed for Warwickshire for the start of their County Championship in April.
Fernando will be ready for Warwickshire’s Division One matches in April after taking 79 Test wickets, including four in his most recent appearance in South Africa in December.
He made an impression in a three-match stay with Yorkshire last summer, taking 17 wickets, including nine against Derbyshire. He then played in Sri Lanka’s Test tour of England, playing a crucial part in their triumph in the third Test at the Kia Oval.
Starting on April 4, he might make his Warwickshire debut against Sussex. He will also be available to play against Durham, another old team, and against Nottinghamshire at home starting on April 18.
“I am thrilled to be joining Warwickshire for the early stages of the season,” Fernando said. “Playing county cricket has been hugely enjoyable for me over the last two years.
“The county have some very good cricketers and I am looking forward to playing with Alex Davies, Ed Barnard and all the boys.
“When I step on to the field for any team I always give 100 percent and the loyal Bears fans will get my absolute heart and soul in every day I am there.
“I am grateful to Cricket Sri Lanka for allowing me this opportunity and thankful to Mark Robinson for believing in my ability.”
In addition to Australia’s all-rounder Beau Webster, New Zealand’s Test captain Tom Latham, and former Middlesex bowler Ethan Bamber joining over the winter, Fernando’s signing comes after it was confirmed that Pakistan’s Hasan Ali would return to Edgbaston for a third consecutive year.
“We are delighted to have secured Vishwa for the first three rounds of the County Championship,” Robinson, Warwickshire’s first-team coach, said. “He’s a proven international bowler and, a left-armer, who will offer us great variation to complement our attack.
“He did well for Yorkshire last season in a brief stay, took plenty of wickets, and we hope he can help us get off to a strong start this campaign.”