Mark Steketee joins Yorkshire on short-term red-ball contract

The Australian has taken 248 wickets at 25.34 in 69 first-class outings

Mark Steketee has joined Yorkshire on a short-term red-ball contract.

The Australian will be available for four County Championship matches, beginning with Yorkshire's clash with Gloucestershire which begins on June 25.

Yorkshire have the option to extend his contract beyond the end of July if they desire.

Steketee, a right-arm pace bowler, has taken 248 wickets at 25.34 in 69 first-class outings, including 10 wickets in five County Championship outings for Essex in 2022.

A standout performer in the Sheffield Shield over the past two seasons, Steketee topped the wicket-taking charts in 2021/22, picking up 32 wickets in six outings, and finished third in 2022/23.

^{Steketee has impressed in the Sheffield Shield for Queensland over the past two seasons [Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images]}

^{Steketee in action for Essex [Harry Trump/Getty Images]}

Yorkshire's managing director of cricket, Darren Gough, said: "Mark is a very talented young player and has performed well in Australia.

"With the schedule Yorkshire has – the Blast games followed quickly by Championship cricket – and current injuries in our ranks it was important that we strengthen the side in our bowling resources.

"Mark will be a wonderful addition to our current squad and help give a further boost to our Championship campaign.

"We have our first Championship win under our belt and we want to push on from here. Mark can bring something more to our bowling line-up.

"Here at Yorkshire we are still working hard on getting the balance right between youth and experience and we now feel we have got a squad where we have plenty of opportunities for everyone."

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