HAMPSHIRE today announced the signing of Australian batsman Michael Dighton.

The right-hander is not well known in England but enjoyed a superb domestic season Down Under in 2003/04 with Tasmania.

Dighton scored over 900 Pura Cup runs for the Islanders - only Shane Watson, who flies in to England this Friday to link up with his new Hampshire colleagues, scored more.

Dighton, 28, is currently playing league cricket in Scotland for Greenock.

He will join Hampshire for a fortnight at the end of May when Watson and Michael Clarke are unavailable due to Australian one-day commitments.

Dighton will make his county debut in the home Totesport League match against Kent on Bank Holiday Monday, May 31.

He is also due to play in the championship match against Notts at the Rose Bowl starting on June 2.

He will also play in the one-day league at home to Warwickshire on June 6 , under lights at Essex on June 8 and the championship match at Chelmsford which starts the following morning.

Dighton plundered 944 Pura Cup runs in 2003/04 at an average of 55.52 - putting him above the likes of Somerset's Jamie Cox (415 runs at 25.93) and former Derbyshire star Michael Di Venuto (649 runs at 46.35).

Dighton scored three centuries and five 50s.

Watson, who makes his Hampshire debut in place of the unavailable Shane Warne in the one-day league at Lancashire this Sunday, scored 983 Pura Cup runs at 54.61 with four tons and three half-centuries.