Sussex have signed New Zealand international Ross Taylor as their overseas player for the first half of the 2016 season.

The batsman will be available from early April through to late July, and is set to feature across all three formats, with his arrival in time for Sussex’s first County Championship match of the season against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road.

Sussex have signed the vastly experienced New Zealand star in anticipation of current overseas player Steve Magoffin soon qualifying as local player.

Taylor, 31, has played in all three versions of the game for his country. He has played 68 Test matches, scoring more than 5,000 runs and averaging 45.99.

The former New Zealand skipper has also played 166 One-Day Internationals, making more than 5,500 runs and has broken the 1,000 run barrier in T20 Internationals, having played 64 times.

Taylor, who had a spell in domestic T20 cricket with Durham in 2010, said: “I am delighted to be joining Sussex in 2016. I've heard nothing but positive words said about the set up at Hove and I look forward to contributing across all three forms.

“Hopefully I can play my part in helping Sussex bounce straight back from the disappointment of relegation last season. I look forward to linking up with Luke Wright, who I have been speaking to regularly, Mark Davis and my new team-mates in April.”

Sussex’s head coach Mark Davis said: “We are thrilled to have acquired the services of Ross Taylor for a large part of the 2016 season.

“He is a brilliant all-round player with high skill in all formats of the game. To have secured one of the best batsmen in world cricket is testament to the ambition that we have at Sussex.

“I am sure the Taylor family will have a fantastic time with us in Hove and we look forward to establishing a great relationship with them.”