Kent sign Ball on loan from Somerset

Jake Ball took five-for on his debut on loan for Division One outfit Durham last month

Kent have announced the signing of experienced right-arm fast-bowler Jake Ball on a two-match loan deal from Somerset.

The 34-year-old seamer moved to Somerset from Nottinghamshire in 2023 and has already spent time on loan at Durham earlier this season.

In his only match for Durham last month, Ball impressed, picking up 5-47 in the first innings as the visitors wrapped up a bowler-dominated Division One contest inside two days at Worcestershire.

Ball spent 15 years at home county Nottinghamshire, where he took 423 wickets across all formats, and also went on to play 24 times across all formats for England, including in four Test matches.

In 2016 he became the first England bowler to take five wickets on his 50-over debut, against Bangladesh in Dhaka, with figures of 5-51.

Kent also confirmed the signing of left-arm seamer Alfie Ogborne from Somerset on a two-match loan deal.

The 21-year-old returns to the club after playing two matches for Kent last summer in which he picked up two wickets in both fixtures.

In the short term, the signings of Ball and Ogborne help alleviate the pressure on Kent's current bowling attack, which has suffered several blows in the early stages of this season - including the season-ending injury to South African paceman Keith Dudgeon.

The pair will be available for Kent's County Championship Division Two fixtures at Gloucestershire and Derbyshire.