DURHAM will be able to field Aiden Markram in their opening four County Championship fixtures after confirming the signing of the South African opener on a short-term deal.

Markram will arrive at Emirates Riverside in time for Durham’s opening four-day game of the season against Kent, and will also face Northamptonshire, Leicestershire and Derbyshire before returning to his homeland ahead of the start of the Royal London One-Day Cup campaign in the middle of May.

When he leaves, he will be replaced by New Zealander Tom Latham, who will return to Chester-le-Street after a successful spell with Durham last summer.

Latham, who has been in fine form with New Zealand’s ODI side this winter, will captain Durham’s RL50 campaign and should be a major asset in the white-ball game.

“We’re delighted to have both Aiden and Tom at Emirates Riverside this season and I am confident they will both contribute to what we hope will be a successful season,” said Durham chairman Sir Ian Botham.

“Aiden offers confidence and maturity at the top of the batting order and despite being just 23-years-old, he has already been recognised by South Africa as a leader in the dressing room.

“It’s great news that we will have Aiden at the beginning of our Championship campaign, especially with Tom Latham, Ben Stokes and Mark Wood all missing due to their international and IPL commitments.

“We’re delighted to welcome Tom back to Chester-le-Street and I’m excited to see him captain the RL50 - he has a wealth of international experience and brings exceptional batting, fielding and leadership skills into the dressing room.”

Markram captained South Africa during their recent ODI fixture against India, and also skippered his nation’s Under-19s side to World Cup success in 2014.

Having impressed with the South Africa A team, he received his first Test call-up during last summer’s tour of England and made his full Test debut in September’s game with Bangladesh, scoring 97 in the first innings.

He claimed back-to-back centuries against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, before contributing a classy 94 during South Africa’s winter series win over India. In his six Tests to date, he averages an eye-catching 52.

He will help replace Keaton Jennings, with the England opener having left Durham to join Lancashire at the end of last season along with his former Riverside team-mate Graham Onions.

Latham has also been in international action this winter, scoring an unbeaten century in New Zealand’s ODI series win over India and also featuring in the Black Caps’ home series victories over West Indies and Pakistan.

With their financial position having improved in the last 12 months, Durham are also looking at potential options for their Vitality T20 Blast campaign, with an overseas signing understood to be under discussion.