Cricket: Bears take a chance on Harris.

Byline: By Brian Halford

LEFT-arm spinner Paul Harris is set to join Warwickshire after the county offered him a contract for the rest of this season and all of next.

The Bears saw enough of the South African during his trial last week to decide he is worth taking a chance on.

But Harris asked for time to mull over his decision as he would be signing on Kolpak terms, scuppering any ambitions he has of playing Test cricket for South Africa.

The 27-year-old is understood to be leaning towards taking his chance with the Bears, having accepted that his initial pitch - for a two or three-year contract - was unrealistic.

Warwickshire would have to pay compensation to Fleetwood, the Lancashire-based club to whom Harris is contracted as a professional this season.

But that should not be a problem and the spinner's 19.4-4-64-2 for Fleetwood in their home defeat to Preston on Saturday is likely to be his last bowl for the club.

An aggressive batsman, as well as a spinner, if Harris agrees to sign, he could be pitched straight into Twen-ty20 with the Bears facing four games in six days.