VVS Laxman should be playing for Lancashire later this season © AFP

Lancashire have confirmed that VVS Laxman will join the county after the Test series against England, subject to final approval from the Indian board.

Laxman will replace Brad Hodge who is returning to Australia for a scheduled training camp ahead of the inaugural Twenty20 World Championship in South Africa.

One of Wisden's Cricketers of the Year in 2002, Laxman has scored 10 Test hundreds, including a match-turning 281 against Australia at Kolkata in March 2001. "I'm so thrilled to be signing for a great club like Lancashire for my first taste of county cricket," he said. "It's something I've wanted to do for a long time and hopefully I will play my part in a successful season."

"We are going to be without Brad Hodge for what looks like a significant period towards the end of the season," Mike Watkinson, Lancashire's cricket manager, explained. "With Mal Loye likely to be involved in the Twenty20 World Cup, we could possibly be without two experienced batsman and we feel that Laxman will bring the quality needed at a crucial time of the season. I'm delighted that we have been able to secure a player of his pedigree, following what we hope will be a successful Test series for him."