Leicestershire eye Aussie paceman

Griffith has yet to win international recognition

Leicestershire are hoping to sign Australian fast bowler Adam Griffith for the second half of of the summer.

The 28-year-old from Tasmania has been lined up to replace Mohammad Asif, who will be part of the Pakistan squad for the Test and one-day series in England.

Griffith took 48 wickets in last winter's Pura Cup in Australia and is currently playing league cricket in Lancashire for St Annes.

"He's a very solid character," said Leicestershire coach Tim Boon.

The club were at one stage considering India's Munaf Patel as a potential replacement for Asif, but their current tour to the West Indies does not end until 4 July and they have another series against Sri Lanka scheduled for August.

They have also given a trial to another Australian, Steve Magoffin, who turned out for the Leicestershire second XI in a recent game.

But Boon confirmed that Griffith, who stands 6ft 5ins tall and has a career record of 122 wickets in 30 first-class appearances, was now top of their wanted list.

Leicestershire added two English seam bowlers to the squad earlier this month.

Steven Clark and Daniel Rowe, from the University Centres of Cricket Excellence at Loughborough and Cardiff, have agreed contracts for the rest of the summer.