Surrey land Rose

Surrey have signed former West Indies pace bowler Franklyn Rose to bolster their line-up for the last month of the season.

The defending county champions were left with a free spot for an overseas player after spinner Saqlain Mushtaq was called up for Pakistan's third Test against Bangladesh in Multan.

Rose was flown from Newcastle, where he has been playing club cricket, in time to make his debut in the National League match against Kent at Canterbury.

Pakistan v Bangladesh latest

Surrey currently head the Division One table in both the County Championship and National League.

But they have lost the initiative in the Championship title race to Sussex, who are only one point behind and have a game in hand.

The side's pace corps is depleted as veteran opening bowler Martin Bicknell is on international duty.

And Alex Tudor has missed much of the season with knee and shin injuries.

In four-day cricket, Surrey face in-form Kent at Canterbury on Thursday, with Sussex beginning a home game against Middlesex 24 hours later.

Rose, 31, gained the last of 19 Test caps in England in 2000 and has since played first-class cricket for South African provincial side Gauteng.

The Jamaican last played county cricket in 1998 with Northamptonshire.