India fast bowler Umesh Yadav has signed with Essex for the final three matches of the County Championship season.
Umesh will replace New Zealand quick Doug Bracewell in the squad, joining Simon Harmer as the second overseas player.
Essex sit second in Division One heading into the final month of the English summer, 17 points behind leaders and defending champions Surrey. Their next Championship game is against Middlesex, starting on September 4, and they finish the season with fixtures against Hampshire and Northamptonshire.
Umesh turned out for Middlesex last year and played three Championship games for them, picking up four wickets at 71.50. A quad injury, which he suffered during a game against Gloucestershire in the Royal London One-Day Cup, ended his stint early.
“I am really pleased to join Essex and make what I hope will be some valuable contributions to the team’s success this year,” Umesh said in an Essex press release. “I enjoyed playing in England with Middlesex last season, and it will be good to return and test myself in those conditions again, especially in the midst of a title race.”
He has played 57 Tests, 75 ODIs and nine T20Is for India, and has picked up a combined 288 international wickets. His most recent appearance for India came at the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia in June, where he claimed a match-haul of 2 for 131 as India lost by 209 runs at The Oval.
“Umesh is a superb signing for us, and we all know what he will be able to bring to our attack at a crucial time of the season,” Essex head coach Anthony McGrath said.
“He is vastly experienced and has taken wickets at the top levels of the game for more than a decade now, so as well as contributing during our run-in, we hope he can pass on some of his wisdom to our young players too.”
