Notts get Taylor as batting cover

Nottinghamshire have signed Zimbabwe wicketkeeper-batsman Brendan Taylor as batting cover for this season, subject to ECB approval. Taylor's availability will be confirmed following the World Cup.

Taylor's signing will provide Nottinghamshire batting cover because they will be without experienced opening batsman Michael Lumb for at least the first month of the 2015 season following his surgery on an arm tendon. Jake Libby, who became the first person in 68 years to make a century on debut for Nottinghamshire at the end of last season, has also been under the knife, requiring cruciate ligament reconstruction and could miss half the season.

The club could also be without James Taylor for the start of the season if he is selected on England's tour to the West Indies. Alex Hales is also likely to be on international duty for the one-day internationals against New Zealand, which begin on June 9 and are played over three rounds of County Championship matches.

"We have decided to strengthen our batting order with Brendan, a proven player who will be an excellent addition to the side," Newell said. "Ahead of the upcoming season, we have found ourselves with two batsmen injured and face the potential loss of players to international commitments."