Theunis de Bruyn pens short-term deal with Surrey

South Africa batsman Theunis de Bruyn has signed a deal to represent Surrey in the club's games in the first division of the County Championship. De Bruyn will play against Somerset and Yorkshire before joining the South Africa squad for the Tests in Sri Lanka, where he hopes to stake his claim for a middle-order spot vacated by the retired AB de Villiers.
"I am delighted to be joining Surrey, a club with rich history, for the next two Championship matches. It has always been one of my ambitions to play county cricket," de Bruyn said.
South Africa will play two Tests against Sri Lanka in the subcontinent before their home season, which features assignments against Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Temba Bavuma is currently a front-runner to take over from de Villiers.
Jake Ball extends Nottinghamshire contract
England seamer Jake Ball has extended his Nottinghamshire contract until the end of the 2021 season, the county announced. The 27-year-old, who has played four Tests and 17 ODIs for England, has taken 27 wickets in the County Championship season and 14 more in the One-Day Cup, which led to his national team recall for the ongoing series against Australia.
"Being Notts born and bred, I'm delighted to sign up to my home county for three more years," said Ball. "It was fantastic to be involved in the success we had last year and I hope we can have more as a club in the seasons to come."
"It's great news that Jake has committed his future to the club," said Notts head coach Peter Moores. "He has the ability to change a game through his pace and movement, and that's something everyone wants in their team."
Rayner agrees loan deal with Hampshire
Middlesex off-spinner Ollie Rayner has signed a one-month loan deal with Hampshire in a move that's bound to ease Hampshire's spin crisis. The county has already lost Mason Crane to a back injury while offie Brad Taylor is carrying an ankle injury. Left-arm spinner Liam Dawson is set to miss games for Hampshire after being called up to the England Lions squad.
Rayner, who took 50 wickets in Middlesex's championship winning season of 2016, is expected to be considered for selection for Hampshire's next two games - against Yorkshire and Lancashire. Hampshire are seventh in the Division One standings and face very realistic relegation threats. Middlesex, meanwhile, are in a similar quagmire in Division 2, with their hopes of a progression fast dissipating. The loan deal lasts a month but Middlesex can recall their player anytime.
"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," Giles White, the Hampshire director of cricket, said. "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."
"I'm obviously disappointed to not be featuring in the forthcoming round of Championship matches for Middlesex," Rayner said. "However when one door closes, another one opens, and I've now got a great opportunity to go and play some first eleven cricket with Hampshire."
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