Durham sign three bowlers to ease injury crisis

Codi Yusuf played for Paarl Royals in the South Africa SA20 competition

Durham have signed three bowlers in a bid to ease an early season injury crisis among their bowling attack.

South African bowler Codi Yusuf is joining for their next six Championship games and the T20 Blast group stages.

While England bowler Jake Ball and Jack Blatherwick have signed 14-day loan deals from Somerset and Lancashire respectively to play in the next two Championship games.

All three will be available to make their debuts away to Worcestershire on Friday.

Durham currently have seven bowlers out injured and unavailable, headed by England fast bowler Brydon Carse.

Right-arm seamer Yusuf, 27, recently took 26 wickets in seven games in his domestic first-class competition for Lions in his best-ever season.

With South Africa batter David Bedingham suffering a fractured toe against Warwickshire, Yusuf can play as a second overseas player alongside Australian Brendan Doggett.

Ball, 34, who played four Test for England, has not played a Championship game since last August, while right-arm fast medium Blatherwick, 26, played three times for Lancashire in Division One last season.

Durham are ninth in the Championship after one draw and two losses in their three games.