COACH Simon Willis says Yorkshire have not gazumped Kent to sign young South Africa strike bowler Morne Morkel as standby for Rana Naved.

Overseas seam bowler Naved's prolonged shoulder injury continues to cause concern ahead of the 2008 championship campaign.

Morkel, 23, played in Kent’s eight Twenty20 zonal qualifying games in 2007, impressing with his searing pace on bouncy pitches at Beckenham and The Oval, and only last week won a central contract with the South Africa Cricket Board.

Though on first sight his signing, on a week by week basis, looks like a coup for Yorkshire, there is little likelihood of the young firebrand playing many games for the Tykes as, from late June through to September, Morkel looks certain to be included in the South Africa party touring England.

Willis said: “We held conversations with Morne over the possibility of bringing him back, but the South African board were only keen to release him for a short period before their tour and we wanted someone, like yasir Arafat, who we could have for most for the season.

“Yorkshire’s fear is that Rana won’t be ready until three weeks into the season, so Morne has signed as cover for that period. It suits South Africa as Morne will be exposed to a Test venue at Headingley that he may well be playing on for them later in the summer, so clearly there was pressure for him to go there.”