HAMPSHIRE have boosted their seam attack with a double swoop for Australia’s Jackson Bird and former Sussex star Yasir Arafat.

Bird will be available in all formats as Hampshire’s overseas player for the first three months of the season, like former Nottinghamshire strike bowler Andre Adams, while Arafat has signed as a limited-overs specialist.

At 27 and with 115 first-class wickets at 20.48 apiece from only 24 matches, Bird has the best years of his career ahead of him.

He swings the ball both ways and took 2-58 in the last of his three Test appearances at Durham 13 months ago (England’s last Ashes win).

This will be the Tasmanian’s first experience of county cricket after a back injury ruled him out of a stint with Northants for their first season back in division one earlier this year.

Arafat also swings the ball both ways and has far more experience of the English domestic game after starring for Sussex and Kent since 2006. He played for Surrey, Lancashire and Somerset from 2011-13 and returned to Sussex for a fourth stint this year, taking 17 Royal London One-Day Cup wickets at 18 apiece appearance and another 15 at 23.66 in the NatWest T20 Blast.

The 32 year-old will have a similar role at Hampshire, who have handed him an initial two-year deal and may become the first county to field him as a non-overseas player as he is due to become England-qualified at some stage next year.

But Hampshire are still after an overseas player to replace Bird during the second half of the season.

Director of Cricket, Giles White said: “We’re delighted to have Jackson and Yasir on board for next season, they will both add a lot of quality to our bowling attack.

"Jackson comes highly recommended and at a time of the year that is likely to suit his style of bowling, we are looking forward to having him about and hope he has a positive influence on our return to division one.

"Yasir has the flexibility to play all of our one-day cricket, his death bowling will be a great asset, he boasts an excellent record and has committed for further campaigns.

"He could also play as our overseas player in the Championship on a match-by-match basis and an added bonus is that his qualification status may allow him to play as a local during his time with us."