Jono McLean has ambitions to follow in the footsteps of his Hampshire team-mate and current England batting star Kevin Pietersen by qualifying for England. The batsman McLean, 24, was born in South Africa and represented Western Province from 2001-02 but he has a British passport.

"I am very keen to play first-class cricket for Hampshire and can bat from opener to anywhere," McLean told the official Hampshire website on Thursday. "I have to complete my four years' residential status to be available to play for England, then who knows?"

Hampshire offered McLean a three-year contract in November following his impressive performances for the second team in 2004 for whom he averaged more than 80. The county also signed Pietersen for the upcoming season, after he completed a three-year term at Nottinghamshire at the end of last season.