Twenty-year-old Australian fast bowler Scott Brant will join Essex over the weekend.
The left-armer arrives on the recommendation of Allan Border, the former Australian skipper who helped the county to the Championship title in 1986.
Brant has recently forced his way into the Queensland side, who Border used to captain and which has provided Essex with Stuart Law and Michael Kasprowicz in recent seasons.
Brant arrives in the wake of Mark Ilott's retirement and with a big question mark still surrounding the fitness and availability of Ashley Cowan.
Essex head coach Graham Gooch believes Brant has much to offer.
"Since the end of last season we have been seeking to strengthen our pace attack," Gooch said.
"We spoke to Border about Brant and he took one or two other soundings before we made our move.
"Although he has just a handful of first class games under his belt, he arrives with a lot of very good endorsements from people in Australia."
Published Friday, January 31, 2003
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