Surrey Signs Franklyn Rose

English county champions Surrey have signed Jamaican fast bowler Franklyn Rose as an overseas replacement for Pakistan's Saqlain Mushtaq for the rest of the season, according to wire reports.

Rose went straight into the Surrey team for today's National League first division match away to Kent at Canterbury where he made an early breakthrough by dismissing England batsman Robert Key.

Off-spinner Saqlain was summoned back to Pakistan for their series against Bangladesh and is playing in the third Test at Multan.

Rose joins fellow West Indians Carl Hooper, Vasbert Drakes, Corey Collymore and Nixon McLean on the English county circuit. Before the Surrey call-up, Rose was playing in the North East Premier League alongside the likes of Reon King and Neil McGarrell.

Rose has taken 53 wickets in 19 Tests for the West Indies. However, a combination of injuries and disciplinary issues led to his early exit from the senior side. Last year, he was dropped from the Jamaica national team in the middle of the Carib Beer Cup tournament.