Voges stands in for Rogers at Middlesex

Australian Adam Voges has signed a one-year contract to play for Middlesex as their fulltime overseas player in 2015.

Voges replaces Chris Rogers in anticipation that Rogers will be required by Australia for their Ashes challenge in England next summer. He will also stand in for Rogers as captain in Championship cricket; Eoin Morgan will continue to captain Middlesex in both one-day formats.

Voges also substituted briefly for Rogers in 2013 when he won an Ashes call relatively late in his career. In four Championship matches he scored 383 runs at an average of just under 55 as well as playing in white-ball cricket.

Voges is currently captaining Western Australia, who, in the last 12 months, have won domestic T20 and 50-over competitions and have been beaten finalists in the Sheffield Shield. Since his last appearance for Middlesex, he has been in excellent form, registering 1,258 first-class runs at an average of 57, 404 List-A runs at an average of 40.4 and 437 T20 runs at 21.

Angus Fraser, Middlesex managing director of cricket, said: "We are delighted to welcome Adam back to the club. During the time he previously spent with us he made an extremely positive impression both on and off the pitch. Adam is a fine player, as he is showing in Australian domestic cricket, and a top man.

"The absence of Chris Rogers, who we believe will be touring England with Australia in 2015, has left a major hole to fill and we believe, in Adam, we have a more than capable replacement. I would like to thank Adam for agreeing to captain the team in four-day cricket in 2015. He will provide us with experience, skill and quality in this department."

Voges will have to rally a Middlesex side which had a disappointing 2014, flirting with relegation from Division One and failing to make an impact in both limited-overs competitions.