Australian batsman Ed Cowan will join Nottinghamshire for the opening months of the 2013 season.

Cowan has a Test average of 34.00 from 11 matches and is set to feature for Australia when the 2013 Investec Ashes Series begins at Trent Bridge in July.

“I was very keen to play some division one cricket and I’m pleased to have the opportunity to do that with Nottinghamshire,” said Cowan, 30.

“There are a lot of good players at the Club and Trent Bridge is a great venue so I’m hoping to make a good contribution on and off the field.”

Nottinghamshire Director of Cricket Mick Newell plans to sign a second overseas player to fill the berth when Cowan joins up with the Australian team ahead of the Investec Ashes Series.

“Ed has an excellent record in Test cricket and there was an opportunity to sign him for a decent period given that a lot of Australian players were set to spend time in England on an A tour in preparation for the Ashes,” said Newell.

“Our priority was to find a player who we felt could score a good volume of runs in four day cricket but Ed has a good one day record as well and we’re confident that he can make a difference for us.”

Cowan will be available for seven LV= County Championship matches and eight Clydesdale Bank 40 matches with his final appearance likely to be against Sussex at Trent Bridge on Friday 21 June.