Foxes draft in Flower

Zimbabwe batsman Grant Flower is to join brother Andy in English county cricket as a temporary replacement for Leicestershire's overseas player Michael Bevan.

Bevan is returning home to Australia for the Super Challenge II series against Pakistan and Flower will deputise for a County Championship game against Warwickshire and four one-day games.

"It is only a couple of weeks, but I hope to make an impact and carry on where Michael Bevan has left off.

"I have never played county cricket before, so it is quite a big challenge," the 31-year-old commented.

Flower, whose elder brother is spending the entire summer playing for Essex, has scored more than 3,000 runs in 61 Tests and has also appeared in 182 one-day appearances for Zimbabwe.

He also bowls useful left-arm spin, although his bowling action has come under scrutiny, most recently during a Test series against India in late 2000.

Earlier that year he was no-balled three times in a single over by Australian umpire Darrel Hair during a game against New Zealand.

Worcestershire's Andy Bichel and Yorkshire skipper Darren Lehmann will also be flying back to Australia for the three games against Pakistan, two of which will be played indoors.

Their counties have already recruited Allan Donald and Simon Katich to replace them.