Protea Harris loses Warwickshire county place

London, Jan 2 (UNI) South Africa's left-arm spinner Paul Harris, who made his Test debut agianst India at Cape Town today, is likely to lose his place in the English county club Warwickshire this year.

The 28-year-old South African, who took 31 Championship wickets at an average of 29 in 2006, lost his Kolpak status after making his debut today.

He would now have to register as an overseas player and the club is looking for a fast bowler to fill in one the two overseas slots as Australian batsman Martin Love has already filled in the other slot.

Chief executive Colin Povey told BBC Sport that the club were now in the market for ''top-class quick bowler'' from Australia or South Africa for the remaining player from the overseas.

Brett Lee and Stuart Clark have been mentioned as possible targets and Povey said, ''We've got a bit of time and we are looking for someone to give us a cutting edge. We feel we have a strong crop of emerging bowlers but no one express pace.'' Povey added that skipper Heath Streak could be registered as a Kolpak player in order to free up an overseas slot, with only one place available per county XI after 2007.

''There is some paperwork to be done but I don't think it is difficult and it should be a formality if that is the route we choose to go down.'' There would be even less reason to re-sign Harris if England left-arm spinner Ashley Giles, currently spending time with his aliling wife, plays more for club than country this year.

''He has a central contract that takes him through to the end of this domestic season,'' Povey explained.

UNI