Middlesex paceman James Harris has signed for Kent on loan for the start of the season.

The 26-year-old Welshman came through the ranks at Glamorgan before joining the reigning county champions in 2013.

The six-foot fast bowler has played for England Under-19s and England Lions and taken 367 first class wickets and 12 five-wicket hauls.

He took 69 County Championship wickets in 2015 including 9 for 34 against Durham at Lord’s in May before claiming 16 wickets in seven red-ball appearances as Middlesex lifted the Division One title last season.

James Harris said: “I am pleased to be starting the season with Kent and am grateful to the two counties for making it happen.

“I look forward to helping get the Kent season off to a positive start in the coming weeks.”

He was the first 17-year-old to take a seven-wicket haul and earned a full call-up to the England T20 squad in 2012 although he was not selected.

A handy lower-order batsman, Harris has scored 12 half-centuries with a best of 87 not out.

Head coach Matt Walker said: “James has been one of the leading seam bowlers in county cricket in recent years.

“To have him on board with us for the start of the season is very exciting and he brings extra quality to our talented squad.”

Angus Fraser, Middlesex Cricket’s Managing Director of Cricket, commented:

“We are fortunate to have a number of high quality bowlers that are capable of and need to be playing first-class cricket, and James Harris is one of them.”

“Middlesex CCC start our title defence a week later than a number of teams and we are pretty sure of what our bowling attack will be in Southampton.”

“The loan system gives clubs an excellent chance to get players playing first-class cricket and when Kent enquired about Middlesex loaning them a bowler we were more than happy to oblige.”

“We reserve the right to bring James back should injury or form dictate but Kent will have the services of a fine cricketer and an outstanding young man.”

Harris has joined initially for Kent’s three opening County Championship games of the new season along with the group stages of the Royal London One Day Cup, but can be recalled by Middlesex at any stage.