Sussex are taking a look at South Africa spinner Simon Harmer.

Harmer – who made his Test debut against the West Indies in January – has been playing league cricket in Lancashire but has been offered a trial to see if he could be the answer to Sussex’s lack of a top class spinner.

Harmer played against the England Lions team coached by Sussex’s Mark Robinson in the winter and could be an option as an overseas player once Steve Magoffin receives a British passport.

Head coach Mark Davis said: “Simon was playing up north so we asked him to come down so we can have a look at him.

“He wasn’t going to be 12th man but we had some injuries so we asked him to help us out. He is a good off-spin bowler, catches in slips and can bat so he’s a good all-rounder cricketer.”