Leicestershire have signed Australia opener Marcus Harris for their County Championship and Royal London Cup campaigns.

Harris returned to the Australia side in January when he partnered David Warner in the final match of the series against India in Brisbane, his first Test since being dropped during the 2019 Ashes.

In the Sheffield Shield this season he has scored 516 runs at 64.50 including 239 when he formed a record partnership of 486 with Will Pucovski. Harris will join Leicestershire when Victoria's season finishes.

"I am delighted to have signed for Leicestershire and cannot wait to get up and running within English domestic cricket," Harris said. "To play domestic cricket in England has always been an ambition of mine."

Leicestershire coach Paul Nixon said: "Marcus is a high-class opening batsman and will add both quality experience to the top of our batting order. He has an excellent first-class record in the Sheffield Shield.

"He has represented Australia at the highest level in the test match arena and will also add a high-class option to our 50-over side, which also fits the bill with Colin Ackermann winning selection for Manchester Originals in the Hundred."

The club previously announced that South Africa allrounder Wiaan Mulder would not be taking up his contract due to uncertainty around the international schedule.

Harris is the latest in a long list of Australian players securing county clubs, either new ones or deals delayed from last season due to the pandemic, including Billy Stanlake joining Derbyshire and Cameron Bancroft returning to Durham.