Hampshire sign Shane Bond

	Shane Bond will make life tough for county batsmen in early-season conditions © AFP

Hampshire have secured Shane Bond, the former New Zealand fast bowler, as their overseas player for the first part of the 2008 season. He will cover for Shane Warne, who will be taking part in the IPL.

Bond recently ended his New Zealand career after signing for the Indian Cricket League (ICL), which brought him into conflict with the board. He opted for the financial security provided by the ICL and has since been linked with a move to the county scene.

He was originally tapped up by Worcestershire but turned down their offer earlier this week and at the time Hampshire confirmed they were interested in signing him. He will be with the club from April until the Twenty20 Cup starts in June.

"I'm really excited about the signing of Shane for the start of our season," Paul Terry, the team manager, said. "With the very busy international programme going on at this time of the year finding a bowler with his genuine quality that has the time and the desire to play county cricket has been difficult, so I'm delighted that Shane has agreed to join Hampshire.

"He is regarded as one of the best quick bowlers in the world in all forms of the game. He will add a wealth of skill and experience to our relatively inexperienced bowling squad and I look forward to him having a real impact on our early season cricket."

Rod Bransgrove, the chairman, said: "With the reduction in the number of permitted overseas players from two to one, we have spent more time than ever making sure we have the very best possible combination of overseas talent for the forthcoming season.

"Shane Bond's confirmation as our overseas player for the first part of the season means that we will be starting our campaign for multiple silverware with one of the world's best seam bowlers and finishing it with Shane Warne."

Bransgrove also said that the club were aiming to sign a big-name allrounder for the Twenty20 Cup.