Big Bash League champions Perth Scorchers have bolstered their squad for the defence of their title with the signing of Hampshire opening batsman Michael Carberry.
The 34-year-old fills the Scorchers’ overseas quota following the capture of veteran seamer Yasir Arafat, who will become team-mates with Carberry in limited-overs cricket at the Ageas Bowl in 2015.
Carberry was runner-up in Hampshire’s run-charts during last season’s NatWest T20 Blast, helping the club reach finals day for the fifth consecutive time, and played his only Twenty20 international for England against Sri Lanka at the Kia Oval in May.
Carberry, who has experience of playing Down Under with England during the Ashes in 2013/14, told the Scorchers’ official website: “Justin Langer got in touch and said they'd love to have me and I'm delighted and thrilled to get out there. It's a fantastic opportunity.
"I played there last year, obviously, with the Test match and I thought it was very well supported by the English fans as well as the Aussie fans.
"I've always enjoyed Perth; I've been there a few times as a young player as well on training camps or playing club cricket. To be back again and to play as a home will be fantastic."
Perth begin their campaign with a home clash versus Adelaide Strikers on December 22.
Coach Langer said: "Michael Carberry is another exciting inclusion into our Scorchers squad.
"We've stuck to the formula of looking for senior professionals available for the full BBL campaign and Michael fits that bill perfectly.
#EXCLUSIVE - It's official @carbs646 will be joining @ScorchersBBL! Welcome to the #OrangeNation - http://t.co/QLPFl7DBcp#perth#perthnews
— Tweet Perth (@tweetperth) November 24, 2014
"He's a dynamic top-order batsman, a cricket tragic - which we like - and a great athlete, so he ticks a lot of boxes for us.
"I'm incredibly happy with our squad and it's a great outcome for us that we've been able to replace Simon Katich in the top-order with someone of the calibre of Michael Carberry."
Hampshire director of cricket Giles White added: “He’s been outstanding for the last two of three years in T20 cricket, setting us up well early on in our innings and he’s played a big part in our success in the shorter format.
“It’s an exciting competition and exciting times for Carbs. He’s been working hard in the nets already so he will be ready to go when he starts.”