Vernon Philander: Sussex sign South Africa all-rounder for spell in 2017

Vernon Philander has scored 891 runs and taken 142 wickets in 37 Test appearances for South Africa

Sussex have signed South Africa all-rounder Vernon Philander as an overseas player for the first half of the 2017 county season.

The 31-year-old, who has played 37 Tests for the Proteas, will be at Hove until mid-June.

The right-arm seamer will be available for six County Championship matches and the group stage of the One-Day Cup.

"It is very exciting to have a player of that ilk joining us," head coach Mark Davis told BBC Sussex.

"He is a world-class bowler and is a fantastic batter.

"He was injured a while ago but has come back really strong in the Australia series which South Africa just played. He will bring a lot of experience."

Philander has previously had spells in county cricket with Middlesex, Somerset, Kent and Nottinghamshire.

He has also played 30 one-day internationals and seven Twenty20 internationals for South Africa.

Meanwhile, former Sussex and England wicketkeeper-batsman Matt Prior will return to Hove in January to help Ben Brown work on his wicketkeeping.