Lancashire have signed the prolific middle-order batsman Stuart Law from Essex as their overseas player for 2002. In six seasons at Essex, the 33-year-old Law creamed his way to 8339 Championship runs, including 29 centuries, but fell out publicly with his team-mates last season. Even so, it didn't stop him scoring centuries on three successive days against his new county at Old Trafford: 116* and 123* against a Championship attack that contained Muttiah Muralitharan, followed by 108 in the National League game.

Mike Watkinson, Lancashire's new cricket manager, said: "I am delighted that Stuart has agreed to join Lancashire. He is a world-class player with a proven record in county cricket and has expressed an ambition to do well for the county, whilst assisting in the development of our younger promising players."

Speaking from his Brisbane home, Law said: "I am delighted to be joining a county with such long traditions and I am really looking forward to playing a big part over the next two years. I only wish the season started next week."

In a career that began with Queensland in 1988-89, Law has scored over 17,000 first-class runs at an average of 50, and has hit 54 centuries. He has won one Test cap for Australia, against Sri Lanka at Perth in December 1995.

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