ANDREW Strauss has signed to play for the Hamilton-based Northern Districts for a couple of months before England’s tour to New Zealand, which starts in February.

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It seems a decent idea but is a potential double-edged sword. Rather like Steve Harmison and his two matches in South Africa last month, Strauss, 30, will be hoping to score loads of runs for Districts and Northern Knights and might well end up achieving the opposite. Harmison, while proving his fitness, was devoid of form with the ball for Highveld Lions.

Strauss might not score runs, but he has the chance to make a good case for England selection under the guidance of Knights coach Andy Moles, the former Warwickshire batsman.