Flower to bloom at Grace Road

Leicestershire have signed Zimbabwe Test all-rounder Grant Flower as cover for Michael Bevan for four one-day matches and a Frizzell County Championship match next month. Bevan will return to Australia next week for three one-day internationals against Pakistan.

Flower, whose brother and fellow Test cricketer Andy is playing for Essex this season, has more than 50 Tests and 180 one-day internationals under his belt. He will play in the C & G Trophy against Sussex, three Norwich Union League matches and in the championship at Edgbaston.

The 31-year-old batsman and left-arm spinner said: "It is only a couple of weeks, but I hope to make an impact and carry on where Michael Bevan has left off. I have never played county cricket before, so it is quite a big challenge.

"The approach to me was completely out of the blue, and I was quite surprised by the offer, but playing county cricket is something I have always wanted to do. If it goes well I would love to have the opportunity to have a full season in England at some stage."

Flower has scored over 5,500 runs in ODIs and taken more than 80 wickets at an economy rate of under five an over. He will make his debut next Tuesday against Glamorgan in the Norwich Union League game at Grace Road.

Yorkshire have already signed Darren Lehmann's fellow Australian Test batsman Simon Katich to replace their captain while he is away.