Former England player Norman Gifford, Simon Katich's coach at Durham, has described the Australian as a 'fantastic signing' for Hampshire.

Left handed batsman Katich's return to county cricket with Hampshire was confirmed earlier this week.

The 27-year-old had been a target of first team manager Paul Terry's for some time, having excelled in his one full season with Durham in 2000.

Katich scored 1,089 runs at an average of 43.56 that year, 62-year-old Gifford's last as coach at Chester Le Street. And the former Worcestershire and Warwickshire player reckons Hampshire have got themselves a good 'un.

Gifford said: "He was a fantastic signing for us and I'm sure he will be for Hampshire.

"He's a very, very good professional. He works very hard at his game and is very dedicated.

"He came over here to play for us with every intention to play Test cricket and I'm sure he will get his chance. He's obviously done it already and is young enough to play for a good few years.

"One or two of the Australian side may be nearing the end of their careers and he still has age on his side.

"As a person I can't speak highly enough of him, he's one of the nicest men that I've ever met, a great bloke. I saw him recently at the SCG. I was in Australia for the second and third Tests and I bumped into him at the SCG when he was playing against South Australia.

"We had a good chat, and playing for Australia is still very much his goal."

Katich's part time spin will provide some variation to Shaun Udal when Shane Warne is with Australia next summer.

Former Sussex coach Gifford's left-arm spin won him 15 Test appearances. He is now retired and based in Steyning but was able to help fellow left armer Katich with his part time bowling at Durham.

Katich bowls left arm chinaman, off breaks delivered with a leg break action.

And Gifford added: "I don't know how much Simon has worked on his bowling in the last couple of years but we chatted about it at Durham.

"He bowled quite a few overs for us on occasions which offered a nice variation but it's important for him to keep it up if he wants to develop it.

"We chatted a bit about his bowling but he worked very hard on his batting when he was with us, that was what he focused on. He's a very good fielder as well, an all round good team man."