Laxman to replace Voges

VVS Laxman, the Indian batsman, will join Nottinghamshire in August to take Adam Voges' place after David Hussey, the expected replacement, was told to rest by Cricket Australia. Laxman will make his Nottinghamshire debut in the County Championship against Sussex at Hove on Wednesday 27 August, while Voges will make his final appearance against Durham in the first-class match two weeks earlier.

"I've heard lots of great things about Nottinghamshire and I'm really looking forward to playing there at the end of the season," said Laxman. "Hopefully it will be a successful time for the club and I can make a positive impact. I've played at Trent Bridge a few times and want to score a lot of runs for the team."

Hussey had played for Nottinghamshire for the last four seasons but Nottinghamshire's director of cricket, Mick Newell, hopes their new signing will be a popular replacement: "Laxman is a world-class player and he doesn't play one day cricket for India so he can commit to us at a time when a lot of players will be involved in international tournaments. He is an accomplished international batsman with excellent footwork and he reads spin very well. He is a big name and we're pleased that he has agreed to join us."

Laxman scored two centuries and two half-centuries in his five County Championship games for Lancashire last season. Laxman became Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 2002 and has scored 12 Test hundreds including a career-best 281 against Australia in 2001. He captained Andrew Symonds, Adam Gilchrist and Herschelle Gibbs for the Deccan Chargers in the Indian Premier League and appeared briefly for Lancashire last season.