Cricket: Another Aussie joins Wellington

Travis Birt. Photo / Getty Images

Wellington's fixation with overseas signings for the domestic Twenty20 cricket competition shows no signs of abating.

The province's selectors today chose Australian batsman Travis Birt to replace injured Englishman Luke Wright for the third round match against Central Districts in Nelson tomorrow.

Wright was hospitalised yesterday with a leg infection. He has since been discharged and is hopeful to playing against Northern Districts in Wellington on Sunday.

In his absence tomorrow, Wellington have turned to Tasmanian left-hander Birt, who debuted for the Australian Twenty20 side against Pakistan in Melbourne in February, and is due to arrive in the capital today.

He will be joined in the Wellington side by fellow Australian and fast-medium bowler Mark Cleary, while the team are also waiting excitedly for the arrival of another Australian, former test star Brett Lee, who is due to join them for five games, starting with the fifth round fixture against Auckland next Tuesday.

Birt will be the third Australian to join Wellington for the abbreviated game after Victorian quick bowler Damien Wright appeared in their opening two matches last weekend before rejoining his state side.

Wellington coach Anthony Stuart, also an Australian, said Birt had been on the province's shortlist of overseas players for some time.

"Birt's a big hitting left-hander who regularly clears the fence and is a proven matchwinner," Stuart said.

Wellington: Jeetan Patel (captain), Travis Birt, Harry Boam, Dewayne Bowden, Mark Cleary, Mark Houghton, Ronald Karaitiana, Chris Nevin, Neal Parlane, Michael Pollard, Stewart Rhodes, Luke Woodcock.

- NZPA