Worcestershire have confirmed that Nathan Lyon will join the County as a replacement for John Hastings after his ICC Champions Trophy call-up.
Hastings has been selected to represent Australia in the 50 over tournament in June and his compatriot will act as his replacement at Worcestershire while he is away at the competition.
The 29-year-old spinner, who has taken 247 wickets in 67 Tests, currently stands as Australia's greatest Test finger spinner and achieved his career-best figures during the series in India recently when returning 8-50 in Bangaluru.
Worcestershire director of cricket, Steve Rhodes, said he was delighted with the move which will see Lyon join a long line of his countrymen in representing the County.
"Nathan Lyon will be joining us and he will replace John. He is a very good replacement. It is a different slant, from a pace bowler to a spin bowler," Rhodes said.
"The good thing for Worcestershire supporters is we have replaced a top international with another top international cricketer.
"Nathan has been mainly playing Test Match cricket for Australia and is available for Worcestershire CCC as he has not been picked for the Champions Trophy, Australia have selected a couple of batting spinners instead.
"He is the number one international spinner in Australia at the moment and just had recent success in India. Nathan is a very respected off spinner and we are looking forward to him joining us and replacing John for the time he is away."
Rhodes said it is a real coup to secure the services of Lyon, especially with many of the world's top players involved in the ICC Champions Trophy.
He said: "If you look at top international bowlers who are available while the Champions Trophy is going on - plus those with West Indies and Afghanistan - you don't seem to see many who are available.
"Nathan has never played County cricket and I really try to get overseas players who are looking for a challenge and are hungry to succeed. He is a great competitor and to get someone like Nathan is really important for Worcestershire."
Rhodes believes Worcestershire's young spinners George Rhodes and Ben Twohig can also benefit from working with Lyon, just like they did with New Zealander Mitchell Santner last summer.
"Signing a top class international spinner is terrific for us from the performance angle," he said. "Nathan is also a very committed dressing room man and our young spinners like George Rhodes and Ben Twohig will have the opportunities to pick his brains over that period.
"That will be fantastic for them and a big boost to those two players."