Labuschagne to play two matches for Glamorgan in May

Marnus Labuschagne has hit 10 Championship centuries and 13 fifties for Glamorgan

Glamorgan are set to have Australia star Marnus Labuschagne available for two Championship matches against Northamptonshire and Middlesex late in May.

Labuschagne, who has played 57 Tests, returns for a brief stay with Glamorgan in his sixth season with the county.

The 30-year-old batter is likely to feature for his country as they defend the World Test Championship title against South Africa at Lord's, starting on 11 June.

International calls and paternity duties have limited his availability for the Welsh side.

Labuschagne has hit 10 Championship centuries and 13 fifties in just 30 four-day matches for Glamorgan, after coming to prominence with a starring role in the 2019 campaign ahead of a successful Ashes series.

He is best known as a top-order batter, but has also bowled seam, leg-spin and off-spin in county games.

Glamorgan will have three overseas players available for the fortnight, with the options of resting prolific South African batter Colin Ingram or Sri Lankan paceman Asitha Fernando, who has struggled for wickets since the first game of a scheduled two-month stay.

Before that, the county hope to have bowlers James Harris and Mason Crane available after injury for the trip to Kent.

Meanwhile, coach Richard Dawson has explained the move to bring on board ex-Australia all-rounder Ian Harvey, his former Gloucestershire assistant, and ex-England batter Jonathan Trott, the current Afghanistan coach.

"Ian and Jonathan were helping out the day before the Derbyshire game and the first three days, providing players with the opportunity to chat to them and helping David Harrison on deck, and having a wealth of experience across the bases," Dawson told BBC Sport Wales.

"They'll keep on dipping in and out for the short term, and we'll put plans in place for them through the season on how they can add to our environment and help the boys get better."

So could Harvey formally take over the assistant's role played by Toby Bailey under previous coach Grant Bradburn?

"It's for the people above me to decide, but Ian knows how to win, he was an all-rounder so he can provide help with batting, fielding and bowling, and he's got a wealth of experience with the white ball which is coming up," said Dawson.

Glamorgan, who remain bottom of Division Two despite their improved showing in the draw against Derbyshire, have three Championship matches in the first block before turning to the T20 Blast starting away to Middlesex on Sunday 1 June.