Harvey signs for WP-Boland

Ian Harvey, the former Australian allrounder, has signed a two-year deal with Western Province-Boland to play domestic cricket in South Africa. Harvey, who is currently on county duty with Yorkshire, will give up his Australian state career with Victoria.

Harvey, 33, will now spilt his time between England and South Africa. During this English season he became this first player to score a century in each of the three years of the Twenty20. In the County Championship he is averaging 46 with the bat, after making 552 runs including a double-century, and has taken 17 wickets at 33 apiece.

"Playing domestic cricket in South Africa is something I have always wanted to pursue following my previous experiences there," Harvey told the Press Association. "When the opportunity to play for Western Province arose, it didn't take me long to make up my mind to accept their offer.

"As well as being a fantastic experience for me and my family, the move will also allow me to follow up the Kolpak enquiries my agent has had recently or continue as an overseas player in England next season. Although it means giving up playing Australian state cricket, I felt that this was the right time to experience something new and I am now looking forward to the challenge."

Harvey spent 12 years at Victoria, where he figured in 83 first-class games and 69 one-day matches, and Shaun Graf, the state's cricket operations manager, said the decision to relase him was not taken lightly. "Ian has been a tremendous servant and his experience and skill with both bat and ball is a loss," he said. "However it provides another younger player with an opportunity." Matthew Elliott and Mathew Inness have also left the Bushrangers during the off-season.