Harvey returns to Gloucestershire

Ian Harvey rejoins Gloucestershire who he helped win six one-day titles between 1999 and 2003 © Getty Images

Ian Harvey, the former Australia allrounder, will return to Gloucestershire on a short-term contract for the 2006 season. Harvey helped Gloucestershire win six one-day titles between 1999 and 2003 before joining Yorkshire for two seasons.

"It is great to be coming back to Gloucestershire and l am looking forward to being back in Bristol," he said. "Even though I will only be playing for a short period of time, I am looking forward to staying involved with the club by helping out with the Academy and the development of the younger players, as well as playing in the warm up to the Twenty20 international."

Gloucestershire's two main overseas players - the New Zealanders Shane Bond and Hamish Marshall - join the club in May; Harvey will play in the first three Championship matches and three one-dayers. After his contract with Victoria wasn't renewed, he spent the winter playing for the South African side, Cape Cobras.

Mark Alleyne, Gloucestershire's head coach, is delighted at Harvey's return to the club. "Ian's record for us is outstanding and there is no doubt he is one that we all love to watch.

"Ian is an explosive batsman that can impact an innings from his first ball, he is a bowler with such variation that he is unpredictable and he is now a cricketer with such maturity that he can make a real difference to Gloucestershire."