Yorkshire's new overseas star Morne Morkel has admitted that he is on a bit of a spy mission ahead of South Africa's Test series against England later in the summer.

The 23-year-old all-rounder trained with his new county today ahead of his debut in tomorrow's LV County Championship game against Nottinghamshire at Headingley Carnegie.

He was signed by the Tykes as cover for Rana Naved-ul-Hasan for the first three months of the season.

But there were a few issues surrounding his availability because the Indian Premier League franchise the Rajasthan Royals, not realising he had a Yorkshire contract, bought him in the second round of player auctions.

Thankfully Manoj Badale, the owner of the Royals, accepted Yorkshire's agreement.

South Africa face England in a four Test series, starting on July 10, and Morkel said: "Graeme Smith has told me to keep my head down, don't talk to anyone, but listen to as many conversations as possible.

"No, I am only joking. He hasn't told me that at all. But this does give me the perfect opportunity to get used to English conditions ahead of the series.

"I desperately want to do well with Yorkshire too. They are probably the biggest county in England, and it would be great if I could help them to win the Championship.

"They have got some fantastic bowlers in Hoggard and Darren Gough. Hopefully I can learn a lot from them."

Morkel actually played eight Twenty20 Cup games for Kent last summer, taking 11 wickets.

It was a decent return for the Transvaal youngster. But he should be able to impress even further for the White Rose, having gained more international experience since his time at Canterbury.

He has played five of his six Tests in the calendar year of 2008 against Bangladesh and, most recently, India.

On July's Test series against England, he added: "We have been playing some unbelievable cricket recently. Our guys are scoring runs and we have the bowlers to take 20 wickets.

"It should be a really great series. It will be hard fought between two very good sides."

Yorkshire pair Matthew Hoggard and Adil Rashid have been named in the England Lions squad to face New Zealand next Thursday.

They will miss the Friends Provident Trophy clash with Lancashire at Old Trafford on Sunday May 11.