Hampshire are after a new overseas player following Marcus North’s call-up to Australia’s one-day squad.

Manager Giles White is in Cape Town on a pre-season tour with the Hampshire squad, where North is with Australia for the third and final Test against South Africa.

He said: "We have a few other options and will know more by the weekend."

Batsman North was expected to join up with his new Hampshire teammates after the third Test, but was added to Australia’s one-day squad when former Hawks batsman Adam Voges withdrew after realising one of the matches clashes with his wedding.

North, who was due to attend Voges’ big day, is now in contention for two Twenty20 matches against the Proteas next week and five one-day internationals from April 3-17.

The 29-year-old, who scored 117 on his Test debut last month, is now certain to miss Hampshire’s first Championship game of the season, against Worcestershire, which begins on April 15.

But Hampshire also expect North to retain his place in Australia’s squad for the one-day series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates, from April 22-May 7.

The two series would rule North out of three Championship matches and three Friends Provident Trophy games.

And as he was only due to play for the county until the end of May, when Imran Tahir is due to return, Hampshire have started to look for a replacement.

One option would have been former Hampshire bowler Stuart Clark, who excelled for the county two years ago.

But the Australian fast bowler signed for Kent the day before North was called up for his first one-day international series.