McGain is available to face Northamptonshire on Sunday

Spin bowler Bryce McGain has become Essex's overseas player while Danish Kaneria is on duty with Pakistan.

The 38-year-old is renowned for playing one Australian Test match, in which he registered figures of 0-149.

That opportunity came against South Africa in Cape Town in 2009 and he has never featured for Australia since.

Head coach Paul Grayson told BBC Essex: "We've spoken to a few people about him and ideally we wanted a like-for-like replacement for Danish Kaneria."

The Essex coach added: "Bryce is someone we've done a fair bit of research on.

"With the way the international schedule is nowadays it's harder to get world-class overseas players in so we took our time and hopefully Bryce can make a good contribution."

McGain can't play in the T20 but if we get to finals day we have registered another player but I can't tell you who that is Essex head coach Paul Gryson

The former IT technician, who plays for Victoria in his domestic league, is available for Sundays's 40 over match with Northamptonshire.

He has played in 30 first-class matches, taking 90 wickets, and has 43 scalps in 22 appearances in the shorter version of the game.

Essex hope the leg-spinner, who will not be eligible for the FP t20 quarter-final with Lancashire, will suit the end of season pitches.

Grayson continued: "Bryce can't play in the FP t20 but if we get to finals day we have registered another player - but I can't tell you who that is."

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