Neil McKenzie signs for Hampshire Cricket (From Daily Echo)

Neil McKenzie signs for Hampshire Cricket

1:13pm Friday 29th January 2010 in

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HAMPSHIRE have signed South African batsman Neil McKenzie.

The 34-year-old batsman, who plays for Highveld Lions, will join as a Kolpak player and be available for the whole 2010 season.

Right-hander McKenzie made his Test debut for South Africa in 2000 in Sri Lanka and has since made 58 Test and 64 One Day International appearances.

His Test average of 37.4 includes a top score of 226 against Bangladesh in 2008, when he was involved in a world record opening stand of 415 with Graeme Smith.

In 2009, he was named as one of the five Cricketers of the Year by Wisden's.

During the South Africa tour to England later that year, he batted for over nine hours for 138 to secure a draw in the First Test at Lords. The innings proved crucial as South Africa won the series 2-1.

In 2008, he scored over 1000 Test runs and in recognition of this, he was named as one of Wisden’s Cricketers of the Year 2009 along with James Anderson (England), Dale Benkenstein (Durham), Mark Boucher (South Africa) and Sarah Taylor (England).

As well as touring with South Africa, McKenzie has also played in England for Somerset nd Durham.

McKenzie joins Kabir Ali, Simon Jones, Shahid Afridi and Ajantha Mendis as new additions to the Hampshire cricket squad for the 2010 season.

Hampshire Chairman Rod Bransgrove said: “The addition of Neil to our strong squad is the last part of a carefully-planned process.

"His well-proven abilities will bring further resilience to our batting in all forms of cricket and I really believe that we now have a squad which will challenge for honours in all competitions. I am delighted that he has chosen to come here.”

Hampshire manager Giles White added: “Neil is a highly-experienced and effective batsman who brings great presence to the club both on and off the field.

"We need strength in depth to sustain a realistic challenge in modern day cricket and I am satisfied that we now have that in all key departments.”