Cameron White joins Northants for T20

Northamptonshire have signed Australia batsman Cameron White as a second overseas player for the Friends Life t20 competition.

White, who was dropped as Australia's T20I captain in January, is expected to be available for the entire competition and will join up with Sri Lankan left-arm seamer Chaminda Vaas at Wantage Road. For White the deal represents an opportunity to find some form and regain his national place ahead of the World Twenty20 in September, while Northamptonshire hope they have secured the services of an explosive, match-winning batsman.

White represented Somerset with some success in 2006 and 2007. His innings of 141 not out, for Somerset against Worcestershire in 2006, remains the fourth-highest score in the history of T20 cricket and the second highest in English domestic T20 cricket. In that same season, White also struck a T20 century against Gloucestershire.

The 28-year-old recently endured a miserable campaign in the recent Big Bash, however, averaging just 7.85 in eight matches. He played the last of his 29 T20Is in October 2011 and the last of his 87 ODIs in April; as well as four Tests in 2008. A part-time legspinner, White plays for the Deccan Chargers in the IPL.

While Northants were obliged to cancel their plans for an overseas tour of South Africa due to financial constraints, it is understood that a couple of private sponsors have emerged to cover the costs of a second overseas player.

"This is an important signing for Northants' FLt20 campaign," head coach David Capel said. "Cameron will be able to add huge amounts of firepower to our middle order batting. Cameron comes to us with a proven track record, both internationally and domestically in the shorter forms of the game and he has the ability to find the boundaries, as seen by the fact he has scored t20 centuries."

Northamptonshire's chief executive David Smith said: "As a former captain of Australia in this format of the game and with Champions League and IPL experience, Cameron will bring a wealth of international experience to our T20 squad. This signing would not have been possible without the help of external benefactors and we would like to place on record our appreciation to them once again."