Kent’s Joe Denly will join Brisbane Heat for the remainder of the BBL as a replacement for compatriot Tom Banton.

Overlooked for England’s Test squad to tour Sri Lanka in January, Denly played 11 games for the Sydney Sixers in 2017-18 and 2018-19 with a highest score of 76 not out. He will arrive in Australia early next week and link up with the Heat squad in the first week of January after serving a mandatory two weeks in hotel quarantine.

Denly’s signing comes after Banton was released from his contract, citing bubble fatigue after spending lengthy periods in relatively isolated bio-secure training and playing environments this year.

Denly played the last of his 15 Tests in July, making way for captain Joe Root who returned from paternity leave for the second Test against West Indies. Denly played one T20 against Australia in September but lost his white-ball deal just a few weeks later when England announced their centrally contracted players for the coming year.

His career T20 record features 213 matches across England, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the BBL and the IPL, including four centuries and 30 half-centuries.

Brisbane Heat coach Darren Lehmann said Denly, who also bowls legspin, would offer his squad a valuable experienced batting option.

“Joe has a reputation of having a cool head in pressure situations and I can see him helping to control our innings, whether chasing or setting a target,” Lehmann said. “We have said all along that this year’s BBL is going to be a squad game and we need to be adaptable and confident in our plans.

“As well as his obvious batting skills, Joe can be a good sounding board for our younger players and of course, give his insights around the group. We’re pretty excited to welcome such a classy and well-credentialled player to the club.”

Denly will join England allrounder Lewis Gregory at Brisbane, while Dan Lawrence will leave the Heat set-up to join the England squad bound for Sri Lanka.