Middlesex turn to spin for County Championship climax with signing of Jayant Yadav

The 33-year-old off-spinner has more than 200 first-class wickets, and has represented his country in six Test matches. He reinforces the Middlesex ranks following the early departure of Pieter Malan

Middlesex have secured the services of India allrounder Jayant Yadav for their County Championship run-in.

Yadav will be available for the county's final four matches of the red-ball season, starting with the trip to Chelmsford to face Essex on Monday (September 4).

The 33-year-old off-spinner has more than 200 first-class wickets, and has represented his country in six Test matches.

^{Jayant Yadav has joined Middlesex [Getty Images]}

He reinforces the Middlesex ranks following the early departure of Pieter Malan. While he does not have the batting calibre of the outgoing South African, Yadav's career average in first-class cricket is above 25 and he should add some substance to the middle order.

Director of cricket Alan Coleman said: "We wanted to bolster the squad with another quality signing ahead of four crucial matches that lay ahead of us in September.

"We feel that spin will be an important factor in September and the opportunity to sign an international spinner of Jayant's quality was too good an opportunity to turn down.

"He brings us that extra bit of something you get from an international cricketer, experience, quality, know how – all attributes that will prove hugely valuable to us in the coming games.

^{Yadav is available for Middlesex's four remaining County Championship fixtures [Getty Images]}

"We can't wait to have him with us and wish him every success here over the coming month."

Middlesex are locked in a relegation battle towards the bottom of the Division One table. They sit eighth of 10 going into the final four weeks of the campaign, just three points above ninth-placed Kent - albeit their rivals have played a game more. 

Following the clash with Essex, the Seaxes are due to take on Lancashire and Nottinghamshire away from home, while Warwickshire will visit Lord's.

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