Kent have strengthened their batting line-up by signing Australian Test player Matt Renshaw.

The 22-year-old left-hander has been brought in as cover for skipper Sam Billings and vice-captain Joe Denly both of whom will miss at least six weeks at the start of the season due to their Indian Premier League commitments.

Renshaw will be available for the early stages of the Specsavers County Championship and for all of Kent's Royal London One Day Cup campaign, subject to regulatory approval.

Kent Director of Cricket Paul Downton said: “Matt is a young talent who is very hungry for success.

"He has the ability to strengthen our batting line-up, which will be key at the beginning of the season with both Sam and Joe away playing in the IPL. We look forward to welcoming Matt into the squad.”

Renshaw played Division 1 championship cricket for Somerset last season, playing 10 matches and averaging 51.30. He made an instant impact scoring centuries in his opening two matches against Worcestershire and Yorkshire respectively.

Born in Middlesbrough but raised in New Zealand and Australia, Renshaw has played 11 Tests for Australia, averaging 33.47 with a career best total of 184 against Pakistan in Sydney in 2017.

He averages 34.56 in List A cricket, with a top score of 88 for his native Queensland Bulls against a Cricket Australia XI in October 2016.