TWENTY-TWO overseas players - exactly half of them from Australia - are expected to be turning out for Southern Electric Premier League clubs this season.

But only four or five of them will be playing in top flight - BAT Sports and Bournemouth deciding to enlist Hampshire cricketers instead.

BAT, who hired prolific New Zealander Neal Parlane for the past two summers, have signed Greg Lamb, with county colleague Jono McLean playing at Bournemouth.

The bulk of the foreign nationals will be turning out in Premier Divisions 2 and 3 - seven in the Second Division and a further nine in Division 3.

OVERSEAS AND CONTRACT PLAYERS:

Alton: Ryan Hale (Brisbane)

Bashley (Rydal): Adam Loader (Adelaide)

BAT Sports: Greg Lamb

Bournemouth Sports: Jono McLean (Hants)

Burridge: Steve Abbot (Perth, WA)

Easton & M Worthy: Scott Smith (Tasmania)

Fair Oak: Keagan Hope (Gauteng, SA)

Gosport Borough: Nathan Ward (NSW)

Hambledon: Matt Hoggett (NSW)

Havant: Michael Thistle (Perth, WA)

Hungerford: Wessels Hartslief (South Africa)

Hursley Park: James Kennedy (Ireland), Billy Taylor (Hants)

Liphook & Ripsley: Dominic Ripley (Cape Town)

Lymington: Peter Smith (Balmain, NSW)

New Milton: Greg Fotheringham (Durban, SA)

Portsmouth: Lawrie Prittipaul (Hants), Bryan Pietersen (Durban)

Portsmouth & S: Dave Upton (South Africa)

Rowledge: Damien Wallis (Brisbane)

South Wilts: Chris Rogers (Western Australia), James Tomlinson (Hants)

Sparsholt: Alec Taylor (Zimbabwe)

St Cross Symdns: Raj Naik (India)

Tichborne Park: John Stock (Brisbane)

United Services: Hendrik Visser (Northern Titans)

Ventnor: Ryan Shutte (Northern Districts, NZ)