Warwickshire have signed Sri Lanka pace bowler Vishwa Fernando for their first three County Championship games in April.

The left-armer, who has 79 Test wickets, will be available for Division One home fixtures against Sussex and Nottinghamshire, either side of a trip north to play one of his former clubs, Durham.

Fernando spent part of the 2024 season with Yorkshire and took 17 wickets in three games, including match figures of 9-88 against Derbyshire.

He is Warwickshire’s fifth signing before the new season, following fellow pacemen Hasan Ali and Ethan Bamber, all-rounder Beau Webster and batter Tom Latham.

“We are delighted to have secured Vishwa for the first three rounds of the County Championship,” said first-team coach Mark Robinson.

“He’s a proven international bowler and a left-armer who will offer us great variation to complement our attack.”

The Bears last won the title in 2021, and last summer finished seventh behind champions Surrey after winning only one of their 14 games – nine of which ended as draws.