Amla is currently ranked the second best batsman in the world

Nottinghamshire have signed South Africa batsman Hashim Amla for the first seven weeks of the 2010 season.

Amla, who scored a century and a double-century in the recent two-Test series against India, will provide cover for Australian David Hussey.

Hussey will be otherwise engaged playing for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League and Australia in the ICC World Twenty20.

Amla could make his debut against Durham University on 10 April.

"Six of our Championship fixtures begin before the end of May so our main aim in the recruitment process was to find a batsman who we felt could score consistently in four-day cricket," said Nottinghamshire director of cricket Mick Newell, whose side finished second in the Championship last season.

"Hashim is having a good time in India, he's not involved in South Africa's Twenty20 side and he hasn't got an IPL contract, so he fits the bill.

"Pursuing county cricket is a good option for a player in his position and hopefully he'll leave with a positive impression of us and the door will be open for him to return at some stage in the future."

Amla, 26, has scored 3,261 Test runs for South Africa at an average of 47.26, with 10 hundreds and 16 fifties, and is currently ranked the second best batsman in the world.

He played for Essex during the 2009 season, scoring two centuries in two Championship matches, including a match-saving 181 on his debut.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version