Australia opener to replace McKenzie at the Rose Bowl
Australia opener Phil Hughes has agreed a deal to join Hampshire for the remainder of the LV=County Championship season.
The 21-year-old left-hander will join the Division One outfit in time to make his debut against Lancashire on August 31.
Hughes, who has recovered from the shoulder injury which kept him out of the Australians' recent tour of England, will replace South African Neil McKenzie at the Rose Bowl after he departs for the Champions League Twenty20 with Highveld Lions.
Hughes has previous county experience in England having enjoyed a fruitful stint at Middlesex last summer.
Stature
He started the ensuing Ashes series, but lost his place to Shane Watson after two disappointing Tests, memorably breaking the news of his own dropping via Twitter.
Hughes said: "I am very excited to be joining Hampshire for the last month of the 2010 county season. I've heard so much about the culture, team spirit and organisation at Hampshire that it feels like the perfect fit for me.
"I've just completed a 12-week rehab program after dislocating my shoulder in May and undergoing surgery. I'm 100 per cent fit again and the opportunity with Hampshire is going to give me some much-needed match fitness in preparation for the 2010-11 Australian summer."
Hampshire manager Giles White said: "I'm very pleased to secure a player of Phil's stature for the final month of the championship season.
"I look forward to welcoming him to the club for what will be a very important period of championship cricket for us."
