Hampshire cricket manager Paul Terry helped complete the signing of Australian batsman Simon Katich and said: "Now I'm happy with our squad."

Perth-based Terry has had former Western Australia star Katich as a target for months now and was delighted to land the 27-year-old on a one year contract.

He said: "I'm really pleased to have signed Simon, he's been top of my list for a while and I'm pretty happy with the squad that we've got now.

"I don't think we'll necessarily be looking to bring in anyone else."

Katich, whose switch to Hampshire was first revealed in the Daily Echo last Wednesday, is currently in his first season with New South Wales after six fruitful years with Western Australia.

And after proving himself in England with Durham in 2000, where he top scored with an average of more than 40, Katich will be looking to score the runs that help Hampshire bounce back from last year's relegation.

He will arrive at The Rose Bowl next spring with a healthy first class average that currently stands at 48.31.

But it will not be the first time he has played at West End - Katich scored 59 in Australia's second innings in Hampshire's memorable two wicket win against the 2001 tour party.

Katich won his one and only cap that year but Terry wants to help him win a regular place in the Australia middle order.

That might not do a Hampshire side already likely to be without a centrally contracted John Crawley much good but Terry added: "It wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing, we want our players playing at the top of their game.

"At 27 he is still very hungry to do well so he can play for Australia and he's already captained New South Wales in first class cricket when Steve Waugh has been away with Australia.

"I've seen him bat on many occasions but I remember one time he batted nearly all day in a Sheffield Shield game against Victoria to get Western Australia to the final, it was a magnificent innings."

Katich will also be an asset in the one day game - he captains New South Wales in limited overs cricket.

"Simon is very adaptable, he can adapt his game plan to how he needs to play at the time," added Terry.

"If there's a bit in the wicket he's prepared to graft and if we need quick runs he can do that as well.

"I know him reasonably well. I've played club cricket against him and have seen him about the place and am confident that he will help set very high standards in the Hampshire dressing room.

"I spoke to him the other day and he's looking forward to playing for us.

"A lot of the Australians enjoy playing county cricket and he's no different, he had a good time when he was with Durham.

"The Australians enjoy the diversity that the county game provides and the prospect of being able to play cricket all year round.

"They like the county scene, being able to play on out grounds and Test grounds. It's a different experience for them and it adds to their game."

John Crawley is currently playing in a four-day game against members of Paul Terry's Auscricket Academy in South Perth.

Michael Vaughan, Mark Butcher, Matthew Hoggard, Alex Tudor, Richard Dawson and James Foster are also in the England side.

Crawley was ruled out of the second and third Tests and the triangular one-day tournament with a thigh strain but is now expected to be fit for the fourth Test in Melbourne which begins on Boxing Day.

Former captain Ian Botham claims England must persevere with the raw pace of youngsters Steve Harmison and James Anderson if they are to have further success in Australia and also in the future.

Durham's Harmison, 24, picked up two for 39 and 20-year-old Lancashire seamer James Anderson two for 48 as they propelled England to a 43-run over Sri Lanka in the VB one-day series in Brisbane yesterday.

England had posted 292 all out thanks to major contributions from veterans Hussain (79) and Alec Stewart (64).

What was more remarkable was that Harmison was making his one-day international debut while for Anderson, who had previously played only three limited-overs games for his county, this was his second international game.

"If that is inexperience I'll have a bucketful of it because I thought they were magnificent," said Botham. "They got the ball at good pace in the right area.

"That is the future for English cricket.

"You have got to have a bit of pace and bounce or exceptional control or a wrist spinner and we have got guys who are tall, have got pace and bounce - let's use them."