Tahir injury aids North

Marcus North hit a century on his Test debut against South Africa in February

Hampshire have confirmed Australia’s Marcus North as their sole overseas player for the first part of the summer.

The club initially announced North’s signature in January but an injury to their other overseas star, Imran Tahir, means the Pakistani leg-spinner will not be available until June.

Hampshire had known Tahir would not be available for the entire summer and consequently moved to sign North in January, but Tahir’s broken jaw, sustained playing for South African outfit Titans, rules him out for several months.

North’s stock has risen since January as he made a century on Test debut to help Australia beat South Africa 2-1.

North, 29, a specialist batsman and useful off-spinner, will play for his fifth county having enjoyed previous stints with Lancashire, Durham, Derbyshire and Gloucestershire.

Hampshire team manager Giles White said: "I am delighted that Marcus will be joining us so early on in the season. His attacking and dominant style of play with both bat and ball will fit in perfectly with the balance of the side, and I am sure his experience will prove invaluable to the club."

North is set to make his Hampshire bow against Warwickshire on April 22.