Pretorius and Streak to job-share at Warwickshire

Dewald Pretorius and Heath Streak have joined Warwickshire for the 2004 season, after agreeing to share one of the two slots available for overseas players.

Streak, who needed the approval of the Zimbabwe Cricket Union, has suffered a string of niggling injuries in recent months, but was nonetheless keen to return to county cricket after an absence of several years. He will join Warwickshire from mid-June until the end of August, when he will link up with the Zimbabwe squad ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy. Pretorious, who was at Durham last season, will play either side of Streak's stint.

Warwickshire's other overseas player, the Australian spinner Brad Hogg, is expected to play for most of the season. The captain, Nick Knight, said: "I am absolutely delighted that Heath will be joining us next season. With 200 Test wickets to his name, he will help the young bowlers coming through as well as bolstering our batting line-up. His cricket experience will be invaluable."

Warwickshire had hoped to sign Makhaya Ntini but that plan was vetoed by the South African board.