Yorkshire keen on signing New Zealand star as they target players from Black Caps’ Test team to boost their squad for next summer

Yorkshire are keen on signing pace bowler Will O’Rourke as English county clubs target members of New Zealand’s Test team for overseas gigs next summer.

O’Rourke, 23, has been one of the emerging global stars of 2024, ransacking India’s batting with seven for 114 in the first Test of the historic 3-0 away whitewash recently and bowling with hostility but not commensurate reward versus England during the past fortnight.

An ability to create menacing pace and bounce from a 6ft 4ins frame makes him an attractive proposition for newly-promoted Yorkshire, although Mail Sport understands one stumbling block might be persuading New Zealand Cricket to allow him to feature in the County Championship.

Black Caps bosses view O’Rourke as a multi-format cricketer and would therefore prefer to see him concentrate on developing his Twenty20 game, potentially at the Pakistan Super League next April-May, followed by the Vitality Blast.

Yorkshire have also pursued Matt Henry, whose nine-wicket tally in an ongoing series England lead 2-0 places him behind only Brydon Carse amongst the most prolific bowlers. Henry, 33, is also wanted by Somerset, for whom he took 32 wickets in six Championship appearances in 2023.

Recently-appointed Yorkshire coach Anthony McGrath has made recruiting top-quality overseas bowlers a priority after homegrown seamer Matt Fisher opted to switch to Surrey for 2025.

one stumbling block, though, might be persuading New Zealand Cricket to allow him to feature in the County Championship

Surrey have also added New Zealand all-rounder Nathan Smith to their squad over recent weeks and remain hopeful of having him with them for the majority of the season international commitments pending.

New Zealand have a tour to Zimbabwe in their calendar next July, but their management may consider another season of domestic cricket in England more beneficial following a spell with Worcestershire last summer that saw him average 30.6 with the bat and 21.1 with the ball in seven appearances.

Kiwi captain Tom Latham, a former academy player with Durham, has committed to Warwickshire next summer while Lancashire are hopeful of Daryl Mitchell returning to play a part in their promotion bid after featuring four times in first-class matches for the club during the 2023 season.