Kent sign New Zealand swing bowler Jacob Duffy for County Championship matches against Gloucestershire and Surrey

Kent have announced they have signed a New Zealand swing bowler on a short-term contract for their next two County Championship matches.

Jacob Duffy has been involved in his country’s Test squads over the past two years and, since the beginning of 2020, he has taken 82 wickets in 28 matches.

His arrival at Kent helps fill a void in the team’s bowling department, with veteran all-rounder Darren Stevens along with bowlers Harry Podmore and Nathan Gilchrist all out injured while fellow New Zealander Matt Henry is to return to Kent but only from July 10.

Duffy will be available in Kent's next two County Championship matches against Gloucestershire, which starts at The Spitfire Ground from Sunday, and Surrey, with that game starting from June 26 at The Kia Oval.

The right-armer was involved with New Zealand’s tour matches before the start of their Test series against England, where he took three wickets in total across two games at an average of 15.33.

Duffy, 27, said: “It’s a great opportunity to play some first-class cricket and I’m looking forward to getting going with Kent.”

Kent director of cricket Paul Downton added: “We’re delighted to be able to secure Jacob’s services for our next two Championship matches.

“It’s a very busy part of the season with Championship matches intermingled with the Vitality Blast.

“Jacob will strengthen our seam attack at this crucial stage of our Championship campaign.”

Duffy's current best first-class figures of 7-89 came for his native Otago against Wellington in the 2019-20 Plunket Shield, a season in which he was the tournament’s joint top-wicket taker.

He recently came up against in-form Kent opener Ben Compton who was selected in a County Select XI squad which beat New Zealand by seven