Cricket: ND sign three overseas stars

South African opening batsman Herschelle Gibbs will play for ND. Photo / Getty Images

Northern Districts will field three high-profile overseas players in this season's domestic Twenty20 cricket competition, chief executive David Cooper confirmed today.

Northern Districts have become the first team to feature three overseas stars on their roster following the signings of South African opening batsman Herschelle Gibbs and Australian top-order players Brad Hodge and David Warner.

The move will dramatically bolster Northern Districts' top order as they chase the domestic title, and a spot in next year's Champions League.

Gibbs is committed to South African side Cape Cobras and will be available for Northern Districts from round four at the earliest, or later if the Cobras progress to the playoffs in the South African competition, provided Cricket South Africa agree to release him.

Hodge will kit up in the pink colours of Northern Districts for the opening four rounds, while the period of Warner's availability depends on whether he is selected to play in Australia's four-day competition for New South Wales.

Big-hitting Warner is considered a limited overs specialist and if not required by NSW, he will join Northern Districts from round three until the end of the competition.

Cooper also said it was likely Hamish Marshall would be rejoining Northern Districts as an overseas player after the Twenty20, from January.

The former New Zealand representative's Irish passport enables him to be contracted to Gloucestershire as a domestic player in English county cricket, meaning he must play as an overseas player when he returns to his native New Zealand.

- NZPA