YORKSHIRE have signed three-time Big Bash winner Shaun Marsh as their specialist overseas player for next month's NatWest T20 Blast.

The experienced Australia international batsman arrives as a replacement for compatriot Travis Head.

He will also play in the Specsavers County Championship when Peter Handscomb leaves for international duty in August.

Marsh, 33, is the brother and son of current and former Aussie internationals Mitch and Geoff. He arrives in Leeds on Sunday and is set to remain with the county for the rest of the season.

The left-hander was omitted from the recent Champions Trophy but he has played 91 internationals across all forms, including 23 Tests and 15 T20 internationals. He has scored four Test centuries and three in ODI cricket.

He will join his fellow Australian international Handscomb in Vikings colours for the entirety of the Blast competition, which runs between July 7 and September 2.

Marsh top-scored in the IPL for Kings XI Punjab in 2008 and home team Perth Scorchers in 2013. He played alongside Yorkshire duo David Willey and Tim Bresnan in the most recent Big Bash campaign over the winter, which the Scorchers won for a third time.

"I'm very excited to be linking up with the club," said Marsh. "I'm looking forward to meeting up with the boys and getting started.

"I've only heard positive things about the club from previous overseas players and can't wait to be involved.

"It's a strong competition and I'm looking forward to contributing to some wins.

"I'll be looking to bring some experience to the group and obviously some runs would be nice too.

"I've played in a lot of T20 competitions now. Hopefully I can bring most of what I've learned over the years to the group and have a really successful campaign together.

"I think we've got a really experienced team with a lot of talented players. Hopefully we can get some momentum going early and put some good performances on the board.

"Having never played at Headingley, I'm really excited by the prospect of that too."

Marsh is one of only six players to have topped 1,000 runs in the Australian Big Bash over the competition's six-year history. He has been top-scorer in two of the Scorchers' three final wins.

Yorkshire director of cricket Martyn Moxon said of the signing: "We drew up a list, Shaun was on it and we took it from there really.

"He's had a really good IPL campaign and, with the quality he's shown throughout his career, he became a really attractive proposition.

"We made an offer to him and fortunately he's accepted it. Now we look forward to welcoming him here.

"His stats stack up really well. On current form, he's in a really good place. We're delighted he's joining and we look forward to him having an enjoyable and successful time with us."

Marsh will play his first match in county cricket against Nottinghamshire Outlaws at Headingley under lights two weeks today.

Handscomb then leaves to take part in Australia's two-Test tour of Bangladesh between August 18 and September 8.

Although his departure date is not confirmed as yet, he has to return to Australia for a training camp beforehand, meaning Marsh is likely to play in at least two Championship matches in August and early September.

If Handscomb does not return to Yorkshire after the tour, Marsh will complete the season.