County nomad Philander makes Sussex stop No. 5

Sussex have signed South Africa international Vernon Philander for the first half of the county season, advancing his reputation as one of the overseas nomads of the county circuit.

Philander, who remains an integral part of South Africa's bowling attack and has played 37 Test matches for his country, will be available for Sussex's first six Specsavers County Championship matches, and the entire group stage of the Royal London One-Day Cup tournament.

Philander will use the spell at Sussex as a useful warm-up ahead of South Africa's Test series against England next summer. He has not played ODIs for South Africa for more than a year but he has not retired from the format and a call up for South Africa in the Champions Trophy cannot be entirely ruled out, which, if it occurred, would disrupt Sussex's plans.

Sussex represent Philander's fifth county after other short-term deals at Middlesex in 2008, Somerset in 2012, Kent in 2013 and Nottinghamshire in 2015. His emphasis has very much been on using the county circuit in short-term bursts to build form and fitness, and earn revenue, without seeking any long-term loyalty.

In those four stints, he has taken only 49 first-class wickets at 26.98, his most lasting contribution being the 23 wickets he took for Somerset in 2012 and his most ephemeral appearance a two-game stint at Kent when he failed to take a wicket.

Most recently, he helped South Africa to an impressive 2-1 Test series victory in Australia, having decimated the hosts' top-order in the second Test with figures of 5 for 21 in the first innings, as Australia were bowled out for 85.

Sussex's head coach Mark Davis said, "I am thrilled to have Vernon joining us for the first two months of the season. He is one of the leading bowlers in world cricket and to have him bowling in English conditions is a very exciting prospect from the club.

Philander said of his upcoming stint at Hove: "I'm really looking forward to getting to Hove and playing for Sussex for the first couple of months of the English season. Although I haven't come up against Sussex much in my time playing in England, I've always heard good things about the club and set-up.

"Mark Davis, the coaching team and Luke Wright are building an exciting squad and I'm excited to be a part of that in 2017."