Glamorgan bring in Helm, Lancefield

Glamorgan have brought in Middlesex seamer Tom Helm on a month's loan, as well as signed former Surrey batsman Tom Lancefield on a one-year contract. Helm will help provide cover for Michael Hogan, who is currently back in Australia for the birth of his second child.

Helm, 19, has been part of the England Potential Performance Programme for the last two winters and took five wickets on his Championship debut against Yorkshire last season. He goes straight into Glamorgan's squad for the visit of Worcestershire.

"I've been aware of the progress Tom Helm has made in recent years and his development work with the EPPP," Glamorgan's chief executive and director of cricket, Hugh Morris, said. "I've been getting encouraging reports on him regularly and he's one of the brightest fast bowling talents in the country.

"Clearly with an international calibre bowling attack at Middlesex, his chances there have been limited, but we can provide him with an opportunity and we're thankful to Angus Fraser and Middlesex CCC for allowing us to have Tom for the next month."

Lancefield was released by Surrey at the end of the 2012 and has since played for the Unicorns as well as 2nd XI cricket for various counties. A left-handed opener, he scored more than 600 runs in all competitions for Glamorgan's second team in 2013.

Essex, meanwhile, have moved to bolster an injury-hit squad ahead of their Division Two match against Leicestershire. David Masters, Graham Napier and Saj Mahmood are all unavailable, leading to Oliver Newby's arrival on loan from Lancashire. With Alastair Cook and Ravi Bopara away with England and Nick Browne, Tom Craddock and Tim Phillips all suffering from broken fingers, Essex have also registered allrounder Tanweer Sikander, who plays minor counties cricket for Hertfordshire.