Hampshire have signed Australian all-rounder Marcus North for the forthcoming 2009 season.

The 29 year old Australian left-handed batsman and right-arm off break bowler will join the squad for the start of the season in early April.

North made his first-class debut during an Academy tour of Zimbabwe in 1998.

In October 2006, North and Chris Rogers made a record domestic third wicket partnership of 459 for Western Australia against Victoria, at the WACA Ground in Perth.

In February 2007, he finished second to Chris Rogers in the voting for Australia’s best state player.

His highest score in first-class cricket is 239 and his first-class average is 44.23, scoring 8758 runs.

North has played in 125 List A matches scoring 3500 runs and claiming 57 wickets.

North has performed consistently for Western Australia over the last five seasons and was awarded the state captaincy for the 2007 – 2008 season.

He has gained experience of English domestic cricket with stints playing for Durham, Gloucestershire and Lancashire.

North will be Hampshire’s overseas player for the first part of the season and be replaced by Imran Tahir, who took 36 wickets at 17.25 in just six LV County Championship matches last season.

Hampshire first XI manager Giles White said: “Unfortunately it is not possible for Imran to be with us for the whole year, but in Marcus I feel we have a fantastic replacement for the early part of the season.

“He is proven in English conditions and his all round package will complement the balance of the side in all formats of the game.”