Srinath to replace Bevan at Grace Road

Indian fast bowler Javagal Srinath is to replace Australian Michael Bevan as Leicestershire's overseas player for the last five weeks of the season.

Srinath, who will be 33 later this month, will play in five Frizzell County Championship matches and four Norwich Union League games. He will make his debut in the floodlit League match against Kent at Canterbury on Wednesday August 21.

Bevan departs Grace Road in mid-August to join up with the Australian one-day squad, and Leicestershire secretary-manager James Whitaker said;" We are delighted to have been able to secure the services of such a quality player to replace him. Srinath is one of the top seam bowlers in international cricket, and we are excited about him joining us for such a crucial stage of the season."

Srinath made his Test debut for India in the 1991-92 season in Australia and has played a total of 64 Tests and 204 one-day internationals.

He has taken 232 Test wickets at an average of 30.46 and 276 wickets in one-day internationals at just under 29 runs apiece.

He has also proved himself a useful lower order batsman on occasions with four half-centuries and a career best score of 76 in Test matches.

This will be his second experience of playing county cricket. He was Gloucestershire's overseas player in 1995 when he took 87 wickets at under 20 runs apiece in 15 matches.

He has taken 493 first class wickets at an average of 26.59 and has a total of 363 wickets in limited overs cricket.