Southern Brave are set to sign Marcus Stoinis as their overseas replacement for David Warner in the inaugural edition of The Hundred after the Australia opener pulled out of his £125,000 deal.

Warner cited “family and personal reasons” for his absence, with his manager James Erskine confirming his decision had nothing to do with the Covid-19 pandemic.

While Warner is a more esteemed white-ball batsman than Stoinis, rated as one of the most explosive to have pulled on an Australia shirt, the latter is no slouch. He was Player of the Tournament and leading run-scorer at the most recent edition of the Big Bash League, and his 146* against New Zealand in 2017 is considered to be one of the great ODI knocks in a losing cause.

The Hundred is set to begin on July 17.