Essex replace Quiney with Rutherford

Essex have signed New Zealand batsman Hamish Rutherford to replace Rob Quiney as their overseas player for the remainder of the season. Rutherford will become available after New Zealand's tour of England.

Quiney suffered a shoulder injury attempting a catch on the final day of Essex's defeat to Lancashire at Old Trafford on May 10. He requires an operation and has flown home to Australia. He played in the first four of Essex's County Championship matches, scoring only one half-century in seven innings.

But in Rutherford, a 24-year-old left-hander, Essex have a like-for-like replacement at the top of the order. Rutherford's weight of runs in domestic cricket in New Zealand earned him a call-up for the Test side against England in March and he made 171 in his first innings in Dunedin. He also struck 126 against England Lions at Grace Road in the second match of the New Zealand tour.

New Zealand's T20 series against England concludes the tour with the final match at The Oval on June 27. Rutherford would therefore become available for Essex's T20 against Hampshire at Chelmsford a day later.

"We are delighted to be signing Hamish and we welcome him to the club," Essex head coach Paul Grayson said. "The coaching staff and myself look forward to working with him and are pleased that he is joining Essex. He is an attacking opening batsman that will definitely benefit us in both the Yorkshire Bank 40 competition and Friends Life t20 too.

"I was very impressed with how he played for New Zealand this winter against England and Hamish comes highly recommended from some good judges in the game, so will be a great acquisition for us I'm sure."