Cricket: Blewett joins Middlesex

Middlesex have signed the Australian all-rounder Greg Blewett as their overseas player for the next two seasons.

The tall South Australian has been recruited as a replacement for the New Zealander Dion Nash, whose disastrous spell with the county last season was punctuated with injury problems which restricted him to just one Championship match.

Blewett, regarded as one of the outstanding prospects of Australian cricket after a memorable start to his Test career against England two years ago, would be unable to fulfill his contract next summer if he is chosen for the Ashes tour, but at present he is well down the rankings of Australian batsmen following the emergence of Ricky Ponting, Stuart Law and Michael Bevan.

Middlesex seem unconcerned about the possible conflict of interests. "We are confident Blewett will provide a major boost to our early order batting and a useful addition to the bowling ranks as a seamer," a spokesman said yesterday.

Blewett scored an unbeaten 102 on his Test debut against England at Adelaide on the 1994/95 Ashes tour and followed that up with 115 at Perth.

He has added a further three centuries to his tally since that remarkable start.