Worcestershire have secured the services of New Zealand paceman Matt Henry as their overseas player for the first half of the 2016 campaign.
The 24-year-old, whose deal is subject to receiving a no-objection certificate from New Zealand Cricket, will arrive at New Road in early April.
He will then depart at the end of June to make way for South Africa international Kyle Abbott to fill in for the rest of the season.
Henry has played three Tests, 20 one-day internationals and four Twenty20s for the Black Caps and was a member of their side that lost the World Cup final to Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground last year.
The Canterbury player also caught the eye of Worcestershire director of cricket Steve Rhodes when he took five wickets in New Zealand’s thrilling tour-match victory at New Road last May.
Rhodes said: “Matt Henry is a fine young bowler who has represented New Zealand in all formats.
“He also was trusted with both a World Cup semi-final and a final spot and his bowling early season will be huge asset to the club.
“I am delighted he will lead our attack and join our current crop of terrific young seam bowlers.”
Henry is the latest New Zealander to attract Worcestershire, following in the footsteps of recent signings Colin Munro and Mitchell McClenaghan, and is relishing the chance to start their County Championship promotion push following relegation from Division One in 2015.
Set for his first taste of county cricket, he said: “Worcestershire have had strong links with New Zealand cricket going back to when Glenn Turner played for them for many seasons and more recently with Colin Munro and Mitchell McClenaghan and I am looking forward to playing for them.
“They showed their quality in the tour game when pushing New Zealand all the way last summer and clearly have an exciting crop of young players who came so close to staying in Division One of the County Championship.
“I hope I can play my part in getting them off to a good start in trying to regain that Division One spot – as well as having another successful run in the NatWest T20 Blast – and experiencing county cricket will be good for my all-round development as a player.”
Source: ECB