An Australian fast bowler is set to boost Kent’s depleted attack for their next four LV= Insurance County Championship Division 1 matches.

Wes Agar, 26, joins Matt Walker’s team until May 21 after fellow paceman Conor McKerr signed on a two-game loan from Surrey this week.

Those signings come with all-rounder Grant Stewart (side) and bowler Nathan Gilchrist (back) already injured while Matt Quinn went off on day one of their four-day fixture against Warwickshire with a groin problem - although he did quickly return to the field.

Agar, the younger brother of Test spinner Ashton Agar, said: “This is an exciting new challenge for me – playing county cricket has always been a dream of mine and I’m excited to be a Kent player and thankful for the opportunity.

“With a win already under our belt this year, I hope to be a part of more victories in my time here.”

The duration of the right-armer's spell as a Kent player will cover all Championship matches until the arrival of Indian overseas Arshdeep Singh in June.

Agar has made two One-Day International appearances for his country, both against the West Indies in 2021, and has made first-class appearances for Australia A this winter against New Zealand A, positioned by Cricket Australia as a test for available red-ball bowlers in “conditions likely to replicate the English summer" and using the Dukes ball.

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He dismissed three of New Zealand's top-order on his way to figures of 4-56 in his first match of the tour.

In the last two years, he has taken 41 wickets in 11 first-class matches. He was named the Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year in 2020, awarded to Australia’s most promising first-class player under 24.

Kent director of cricket Paul Downton added: “Wes is an exciting, wicket-taking bowler known for bowling a heavy ball.

“He offers us a point of difference that will complement our core bowling group at the club and will help us in our efforts to take 20 wickets in each of our next four matches in the Championship.”

Kent opener Zak Crawley faced Agar this winter in the Australian T20 Big Bash League, Crawley with Hobart Hurricanes and Agar playing for Adelaide Strikers.

Agar is expected to make his Kent bow next week when they host Essex at Canterbury from Thursday following the completion of their clash against Warwickshire this weekend.