Matt Henry joins Somerset as overseas player for Championship and Blast

Somerset have signed Matt Henry, the New Zealand seamer, as an overseas player for seven County Championship games and the duration of the T20 Blast.

Henry has been hugely effective whenever he has played Championship cricket, taking 87 wickets at 15.94 across two spells at Kent, and has also represented Derbyshire and Worcestershire in his English domestic career.

Somerset hope he will complement a seam attack that includes Peter Siddle, Lewis Gregory and Craig Overton. "We've got a nucleus of bowlers who are capable of ensuring that we take 20 wickets in red-ball cricket alongside a group of talented young bowlers who are incredibly aspirational and have already shown what they are capable of," Jason Kerr, their coach, said. "Matt's arrival will bring us even more potency.

"He is a world-class performer who has demonstrated what he can do across all formats already within the English domestic game. He's got good pace and can swing the ball. What he will provide off the field will be equally as important. He has experienced playing all over the world and will be able to share a vast amount of knowledge.

"It's important that we can rotate the bowlers throughout the summer to ensure that we can compete across all formats. Being able to rest players in order to keep them as fresh as possible will give us the best chance to remain really competitive."

Henry is due to arrive in time for Somerset's Championship match against Lancashire on May 11, after New Zealand's ODI series in Pakistan, and will leave the club on July 31. "I enjoy playing in English conditions and I'm looking forward to joining up with Somerset," he said. "They are a club that are held in high regard, and I've heard only good things about the setup there."

Meanwhile, Yorkshire have signed Mickey Edwards, a 28-year-old Sydney Sixers and New South Wales seamer, on an 18-month deal as a local player, thanks to a British passport. He will be unavailable for his Australian teams next season unless they register him as an overseas player.

Edwards has a modest career record - he has only made 18 appearances across formats - but declared his ambition "to fight for a spot in the England team across all formats" in a press release. "I am confident that being at Yorkshire is the best place for me to achieve that," he said.

Darren Gough, Yorkshire's managing director, said: "We've been tracking him over the winter and are excited to be welcoming him to our side. He's got pace, height and skill and will present a real challenge for batters in all formats."