Brendon McCullum in for Dilshan for T20 at Sussex

McCullum has an international T20 average of 36.55

New Zealander Brendon McCullum has signed to play for Sussex in this summer's Twenty20 competition.

The wicketkeeper-batsman will replace Tillakaratne Dilshan, who has been refused permission to play by Sri Lanka after they scheduled extra tours.

McCullum, 28, has a domestic T20 batting average of 32.95 at a strike rate of 141.41.

Sussex cricket manager Mark Robinson said: "His power at the top of the order can give us the start we need."

He added: "Brendon was always on our short list for 2010 and once New Zealand's tour to Zimbabwe was postponed we made our move."

Dilshan was denied permission to play by Sri Lanka cricket following their scheduling of additional tours to the USA and Zimbabwe in late May and early June.

Robinson said: "It is a shame that Sussex supporters will not get to see Dilshan though we hope we can bring him over at some point in the future."

McCullum, a right-handed batsman, made a name for himself in the shortest form of the game with a highest score of 158 not out in the very first Indian Premier League game in 2008.

He and West Indian Dwayne Smith will be Sussex's two overseas players for the Twenty20 tournament, which starts on June 1.