HAMPSHIRE have signed two South African-born England-qualified players – including former Middlesex all-rounder Gareth Berg.

Berg and teenage fast bowler Bradley Wheal are at opposite ends of their careers but have both agreed one-year deals. British passport-holder Wheal, who is on a development contract, is hoping to follow a similar path in county cricket to Berg.

Middlesex cancelled the last year of the 34 year-old’s contract after a season in which he played only once. He feared his career was over after undergoing shoulder surgery last April and has not played since. But he is expected to be fit for the start of the season.

Berg, who attracted interest from Worcestershire and Northants, said: “Hampshire’s a massive club and I’m very excited to be here, this is a great fresh start for me. I’ve worked really hard on my fitness over the winter and my body is probably in the best condition it’s been in for three years.”

Berg did not make his first-class debut until he was 26, having arrived in the UK to play club cricket. Since making his Middlesex debut in 2008, he has scored 2,980 first-class runs at 29.8 and taken 140 wickets at 32 apiece.

He also has 999 one-day runs at 25 and 860 T20 runs at 26 – including 400 at 30.8 for Italy, who he qualified for through his maternal grandparents.

Hampshire coach Dale Benkenstein said: “Gareth’s the perfect county player. He’s coming off quite a bad injury but is one of the few county all-rounders with stats like his. If they were any better he wouldn’t be far off playing for England.

“We’re short of that extra bowling all-rounder in all forms. Colesy (Matt Coles) has that ability but he’s more of a bowler and Chris Wood needs a few more years to develop. Sean Ervine fills that gap but there’s no one really pushing him.

 “We were looking at Nathan Rimmington but now he’s focused on playing in Australia we turned to Gareth. We believe we can get him back to his best, he’ll give us options and balance.”

Benkenstein is bringing 18-year-old Wheal with him after being impressed by his performances for Natal Under-19s. Unlike Durham, where Benkenstein captained the likes of Steve Harmison and Liam Plunkett, Hampshire are not blessed with many young seamers.

“If we had local players in that age group there’d be no need to bring him over but we haven’t got a big base of fast bowlers coming through,” said Benkenstein. “We’re blessed with a lot of batsmen and spinners but for some reason we haven’t got many seamers. It was the opposite at Durham, we couldn’t find batters who could score 1,000 runs a season so the conditions probably have something to do with it.

“It will be good to have a look at Brad. I wouldn’t expect him to play in the first team this year but he’s got ability and he definitely has the desire.

“He bowls a lively pace, he’s athletic and very fit and with the quota system in South Africa making it difficult to get games he’s made the decision that he really wants to play for England.”