Gloucestershire bring in Rob Nicol as overseas player

New Zealand batman Rob Nicol is to join Gloucestershire for the final two months of the season.

The 29-year-old replaces fellow Kiwi Kane Williamson, who will be on international duty from next week.

Director of cricket John Bracewell told BBC Gloucestershire: "He's like-for-like with Kane. He's a top-order batsman and bowls some off-spin. He's a good player - but also a good man."

However, Nicol will not be available to join the club until mid-July.

With Williamson departing after the games against Worcestershire and Northants on Sunday and Friday next week, it means Muttiah Muralitharan will be Gloucestershire's only overseas player for most of the group stage of the T20 competition.

Nicol has hit two centuries in nine one-day internationals and averages almost 49 and he has also won two Test caps for his country.

He will be on standby for New Zealand's tour to the West Indies and will then link up with Gloucestershire midway through the Cheltenham cricket festival next month.