English county Durham have signed New Zealand all-rounder Nathan Astle to replace captain Mike Hussey on a short-term contract while the Australian is on international duty this summer. Astle, who has previously played for Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, will join Durham in June when Hussey is scheduled to be helping Australia take on England and Bangladesh in a series of one-day internationals.
Durham, who opened their 2005 season with wins in their first two County Championship matches, will also likely lose fast bowler Stephen Harmison and all-rounder Paul Collingwood to England for the NatWest internationals.