HAMPSHIRE have signed West Indies pace ace Fidel Edwards as a non-overseas player for the last two months of the forthcoming season.

The 33 year-old fast bowler is looking forward to his first experience of county cricket after an international career in which he took 241 wickets across all formats– including 165 at 37.87 in Tests.

Edwards will arrive for the start of Hampshire’s 50-over Royal London One-Day Cup campaign on July 27 and is also available for the last five LV County Championship matches.

Hampshire director of cricket Giles White snapped up Edwards during Hampshire’s pre-season tour of Barbados, where he impressed in taking 8-40 against Nottinghamshire for Combined Campuses & Colleges.

White said: “We were made aware Fidel was available and we thought it was a good opportunity. He bowled with pace, control and swing against Notts and will add something different with his slingy action and skiddy trajectory.

“We can play him as a non-overseas [Kolpak] player, he’s got a lot of experience and he fits the bill for the 50-over competition, where pace plays an important part.

"Historically, wickets get flatter in the second half of the season so pace and variety becomes more important.

“Hopefully he gives us that at a time of year when we’ll need something fresh.”

Edwards turned down Leicestershire because of his Caribbean Premier League commitments in 2013, so this will be his first experience of county cricket.

“It’s an honour to follow other Bajans like Malcolm Marshall and Gordon Greenidge to Hampshire,” he said.

Hampshire already have a new stable of seamers in overseas duo Jackson Bird and Yasir Arafat, Andre Adams and Gareth Berg. That quartet will share the duties with James Tomlinson and Chris Wood, while rookies Tom Barber and Brad Wheal could also feature at some stage.

The departure of Matt Coles meant Hampshire were lacking genuine pace before the addition of Edwards, who is set to make his debut in the RLODC opener against Sussex on Monday, July 27.

White continued: “It should work well in early season. Andre Adams leaves after three months and Jackson’s availability is open-ended depending on whether he gets picked by Australia. But Yasir Arafat can play as an overseas player if need be so it looks a good mix.

“I’m pleased with our recruitment. You need a stock of bowlers and young Brad Wheal also impressed in Barbados.”

Edwards played the last of his 55 Tests in November 2012, a career which included figures of 6-92 against England at Lord’s in May 2009.

He will be aiming to fire Hampshire to a return to Lord’s for the RLODC final on SEptember 19. Before then he will be playing for the St Lucia Zouks in the Caribbean Premier League.