Vincent has played 102 ODIs for New Zealand

New Zealand Test batsman Lou Vincent has joined Lancashire as their overseas player for the Twenty20 Cup.

The 29-year-old former Worcestershire signing played recently for Chandigarh Lions in the Indian Cricket League.

He is being brought in because Australian Brad Hodge is in the West Indies with the national team.

And Hodge's original replacement Mohammad Yousuf has had to return to Pakistan duty after a month-long stint at Old Trafford.

Vincent has played 23 Tests and 102 one-day internationals for the Black Caps, scoring just less than 4,000 runs.

He spent a generally successful two months at New Road in the second half of the 2006 season as stand-in for Phil Jaques, hitting 469 runs in six County Championship games and 427 in eight one-day matches. But he managed only 138 in the eight Twenty20 games he played.

606: DEBATE Give your reaction to the Vincent signing

"He is an exciting player and excellent fielder - just what we need for Twenty20 cricket."

The Twenty20 Cup begins on 11 June and the semi-finals and final are being held at the Rose Bowl on 26 July.

But Vincent's signing has not gone down well with his Lancashire League side Ramsbottom, with the club's cricket manager Mick Everett saying they felt they had not been consulted on the issue.

"I'm surprised because Lancashire are our county club. I thought we'd have been informed by somebody as to what their intentions were," Everett told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"I'm happy that they will compensate us, but I'd have expected some kind of approach, whether it be to me, the secretary or the chairman."

Watkinson explained the reasons why the county have had no contact with Ramsbottom.

"It was something Lou wanted to handle himself. He's worked very hard to make sure they're not left short, but we'll do everything we can to help them through this situation," said Watkinson.