Rutherford signs for Derbyshire

Derbyshire have added to their collection of overseas players for 2015 by bringing in New Zealand opener Hamish Rutherford to cover for the absence of Tillakaratne Dilshan in June and July. Rutherford is in the UK with New Zealand's Test squad but is not expected to be involved in the limited-overs leg.

Martin Guptill's Test recall has left Derbyshire currently without an overseas player, although the arrival of Hasim Amla on a short-term deal is imminent. He will then be succeeded by Dilshan, who will be replaced by Rutherford during Dilshan's spell in the Caribbean Premier League. Nathan Rimmington has also signed to play in the NatWest T20 Blast.

Rutherford, 26, has previously played county cricket for Essex. He will join up with Derbyshire in the middle of June and will be available across all three formats until the end of July. In total, he will be available for seven NatWest T20 Blast fixtures, three Championship matches and four Royal London Cup games during his stay.

"Hamish is a talented top-order batsman who already has experience playing county cricket in English conditions," Derbyshire performance director, Graeme Welch, said. "He has international pedigree in both the long and shorter formats, which will be key as he joins us at what is a busy part of the summer. He will join us fresh from a Test series versus England so he will be used to the conditions, match fit and raring to go.

"Together with Guptill, Rimmington, Amla and Dilshan, we have now been able to reinforce our line-up with experienced overseas players across the entire season, which provides us with real options in all formats of the game."