Yorkshire have signed Australian batsman Phil Jaques as stand-in overseas player during Darren Lehmann's absence on international duty.

Jaques, who played as an English-qualified player last season for Northamptonshire by virtue of his British passport, broke into the New South Wales side this winter which effectively meant he had pledged his allegiance to the country of his birth.

Northants considered challenging the England and Wales Cricket Board's registration regulations to retain the services of Jaques, 25, following his outstanding success last summer.

But following talks with the Lord's hierarchy, the midlands county agreed that the left-handed batsman, compiler of more than 1,400 first-class runs in 2003, contravened the requirements of a 'qualified' player.

Jaques could make his debut against Hampshire in the Championship contest next Tuesday at Leeds.

He will spend a month at Headingley.

Meanwhile, Australian all-rounder Shane Watson, pictured, flies into England next Friday before instantly travelling up to Leeds to meet his new Hampshire team-mates.

YORKSHIRE quickie Chris Silverwood admitted he was pleased with how "ruthless" his side had been as the Tykes cantered to an eight-wicket win over Dorset in the C&G Trophy second round.

The England pace bowler snapped up the first four Dorset wickets with a fine spell of fast bowling as the hostswere dismissed for 97.

Silverwood finished with 4-18 from his 10 overs to earn the man-of-thematch award as the home side were shot out in just 131 minutes.

He said: "We had to be ruthless. Regardless of who you play, if you get on top you've got to stay there and capitalise on it. But it was a good professional performance.

"We got off to a good start, winning the toss is always a bonus, and we got the start we wanted really. We looked for early inroads and got them.

"The fact we won the toss worked in my favour with the weather as it was, there was always going to be a little bit in the pitch and we tried to knock them over, which we did."