Hampshire have signed off-spinner Ollie Rayner on a short-term loan deal from Middlesex as cover for injured spin twins Mason Crane and Brad Taylor.

The 32-year-old joins the squad for this week’s Specsavers County Championship match against Yorkshire and next week’s trip to Old Trafford to take on Lancashire.

With Liam Dawson unavailable for both red-ball fixtures following his selection for England Lions, Rayner goes straight into tomorrow’s squad (2pm start).

Hampshire director of cricket Giles White explained: “Obviously, we’ve got a couple of injuries to both spinners Mason and Brad, and Liam is away with the Lions so in light of that we looked at the loan options and we were delighted that Ollie was available.

“It’s great that Angus Fraser and Middlesex have allowed him to come to us and he’ll play a part in the next couple of Championship games – he’s a good bowler and has done well for Middlesex over the years, he bats and catches well at second slip too so it’s a good fit for us.”

Rayner, who has 290 first-class wickets to his name from 135 matches, has been a prominent member of Middlesex’s side in recent years and he was a pivotal to their Division One title success in 2016, where he claimed more than 50 wickets in the campaign.

The former Sussex man also has a first-class batting average of 21.22, having scored two centuries and 13 fifties.

Rayner said: “I’m obviously disappointed to not be featuring in the forthcoming round of Championship matches for Middlesex, however when one door closes, another one opens, and I’ve now got a great opportunity to go and play some First XI cricket with Hampshire.

“I’d like to thank Angus and the club for making this happen and for giving me the chance to play first-class cricket in the coming weeks.

"My thanks also go to Hampshire for giving me this opportunity and I’m looking forward to repaying their faith in me, and for bringing me in to provide cover in their spin department.”

Hampshire drew last season's inaugural day-night four-day match, against Somerset. 

It was rain-affected but the forecast is good this week with pink Kookaburras balls set to be used for the first time in the Championship. 

Yorkshire have lost Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Matt Fisher to England Lions, in addition to the five players they have in England’s one-day squad.

Hampshire (from): Adams, Weatherley, Vince, Northeast, Alsop, Rossouw, Holland, Berg, Rayner, Edwards, Steyn, McManus, Stevenson, Abbott.

Yorkshire (from): Lyth, Lees, Pujara, Brook, Ballance, Leaning, Tattersall, Bresnan, Brooks, Carver, Coad, Patterson, Thompson.