Hampshire have signed Australian Nathan Rimmington as cover for Kyle Abbott.

The 31 year-old seamer played for the Melbourne Renegades during the Big Bash and is available for tomorrow’s T20 Blast clash against Middlesex at The Ageas Bowl.

But Rimmington will not be playing for Hampshire in the LV County Championship.

Abbott will only miss one four-day game, against Essex at Colchester from Sunday, but Rimmington will replace him for the Hampshire’s last three T20 group games.

Owais Shah is now at the Caribbean Premier League, but Hampshire also have a timely reminder for the former England batsman, now that Liam Dawson is available after two months out with a groin tear.

Hampshire coach Dale Benkenstein has named the following 13-man squad to take on Middlesex tomorrow night: Vince (c), Carberry, Adams, Dawson, Maxwell, Ervine, Smith, Coles, Wood, Rimmington, Bates, Briggs, Wheater.