Hampshire snap up batsman North

North has a highest score of 239 in first-class cricket

Hampshire have bolstered their overseas line-up for the 2009 season by signing Australian batsman Marcus North.

North, 29, will join up with the squad in early April before Pakistani leg-spinner Imran Tahir returns from his club commitments in South Africa.

North, a left-handed batsman who also bowls right-arm off-spin, has a first-class average of 44 with the bat.

He has previous experience of playing county cricket with Gloucestershire, Durham and Lancashire.

Hampshire chairman Rod Bransgrove said: "He is a very talented and exciting cricketer who I know is relishing the opportunity to score some big runs for Hampshire and really entertain our fans along the way."