YORKSHIRE have signed Australian batsman Travis Head as their replacement overseas player once Kane Williamson leaves the county in July.

Head, 22, will link up with the White Rose from July 18 to play in all competitions.

He starred for Adelaide Strikers in the recent Big Bash T20 competition under the guidance of Jason Gillespie before making his international debut in the same format against India last month.

Left-handed Head was the fifth leading run-scorer in the Big Bash with 299 runs from nine matches, and he also captains South Australia in first-class cricket.

“I can’t wait to get over to England and play for Yorkshire, the best side in the English game,” said Head, who qualifies for a visa through a British passport.

“To work alongside Dizzy (Gillespie) is also an added attraction. He was brilliant for the Strikers, and I have heard so many positive things about what he is doing with the team at Yorkshire.

“To play across all formats is important to me, and playing in English conditions will be a good challenge. I can’t wait to get over and make an impact.”

New Zealander Williamson will play for Yorkshire between June 9 and July 18 before a Test tour of Zimbabwe and South Africa.

“Travis is a great signing for us,” added Gillespie.

“The fact that he can adapt to all formats is beneficial to us. He will add something different to the squad with his aggressive batting style and his ability with the ball as a genuine (off) spinner.”

l The MCC have confirmed their team for next month’s champion county fixture against Yorkshire in Abu Dhabi.

Captain Ian Bell will be joined by Durham pair Scott Borthwick and Graham Onions for the first-class match between March 20-23.

They are three of five players included with England Test experience as Rikki Clarke and James Tredwell have also been selected.

Jake Ball, Nick Browne, Rory Burns, Ben Foakes, James Harris and Tom Westley make up the eleven who will contest a red ball daytime match, as previously revealed.

Yorkshire beat the MCC inside three days last March with the pink ball under floodlights.

Yorkshire and the MCC will also take part in the Emirates Airline T20 competition on March 18 in Dubai, which also involves Lancashire and the UAE national team.

The MCC have included Sri Lanka legend Kumar Sangakkara, but he will not play in the champion county clash.

Yorkshire are the defending champions having beaten Lancashire and Sussex last year.

“The champion county fixture is a red ball game this year, and it will be a tough test against a squad full of quality,” said White Rose limited overs captain Alex Lees.

“The biggest thing for everyone is to have some good match practice before the start of the season.

“The T20 win was a great way to start the summer, but in hindsight we didn’t play the same sort of cricket we did out there on that day when we got back home. That was disappointing.

“We will be looking to do the same again, but carry it on more consistently through the season.”

Yorkshire fly out to Dubai on March 11 before facing Lancashire in a two-day friendly, starting March 14, at the ICC Global Academy.