Nottinghamshire sign Elworthy as overseas cover

Nottinghamshire have signed South African pace bowler Steve Elworthy as a replacement overseas player for the early part of the forthcoming season as cover for New Zealander all-rounder Chris Cairns and Australian leg-spinner Stuart MacGill while they are on international duty.

New Zealand will be in Sri Lanka until 31st May, playing two Test matches and then a triangular tournament involving Pakistan as well. The Australians are on tour in the Caribbean until 1st June.

Elworthy, who can be counted in the veteran category at the age of 38, spent the 1996 season with Lancashire. He said: "This came completely out of the blue. I have a lot of connections with Notts having played with Jason Gallian in the past at Lancashire, Greg Smith for Northern Transvaal and even new signing Russell Warren when I had a trial at Northants.

"I also have happy memories of Trent Bridge, where I made my Test debut and I'm really looking forward to playing county cricket again."

Elworthy played four Tests for South Africa and 39 one-day internationals. In all first-class cricket he has taken 474 wickets at an average of 27.55 and another 258 wickets in one-day matches at 26.97.