Cricinfo staff
Ajantha Mendis, the Sri Lankan spinner, has been signed by Hampshire to play in the 2010 season. He will take over from Imran Tahir, who is due to return to The Rose Bowl in 2011, depending on his international commitments.
"Ajantha Mendis is the most exciting new bowler to explode onto the world stage since Shane Warne," said Rod Bransgrove, Hampshire chairman. "We are particularly excited that he has decided to join Hampshire having been courted by a number of counties over the past few months."
Mendis, 24, has played eight Test Matches for Sri Lanka, taking 39 wickets with career-best figures of 6 for 117 against India. He also won the ICC Emerging Player of the Year in 2008.