Northamptonshire sign Chris Lynn for T20 Blast

The big-hitting Australian is set to be available for the entire competition

Northamptonshire have signed Chris Lynn for the whole of this season's T20 Blast.

The Australian, who has played 230 matches in T20 cricket and has developed a reputation as one of the hardest hitters in the format, has never previously played in England's domestic competition.

Lynn represented Northern Superchargers in last summer's inaugural edition of The Hundred but was not retained in the draft for this year's tournament.

"I have always wanted to play county cricket and I'm really looking forward to joining up with Northamptonshire for the Vitality Blast," said Lynn.

"The UK is a great place to play, and I am hopeful that I can contribute with some good performances and also try to entertain the Steelback fans this summer."

^{Lynn represented Northern Superchargers in The Hundred last year (George Wood/Getty Images)}

He joins New Zealand allrounder Jimmy Neesham at Wantage Road as the county's second overseas player for the competition.

"To get someone of Lynn's quality is an excellent signing," added Josh Cobb, Northamptonshire's T20 captain. "He fits the bill really well in terms of his power at the top of the order and fills that slot for us nicely."