Middlesex could be in the market to sign a Twenty20 world-beater like Brendon McCullum after being told they must chase a near £2million prize this winter without two of their England stars.

Owais Shah and Andrew Strauss will be unavailable for December's Champions League in India because both batsmen are needed by their country for a warm-up match ahead of the First Test in Ahmedabad.

Middlesex captain Shaun Udal today expressed his disappointment at the decision but said England's domestic Twenty20 champions may make a spectacular loan signing.

"We want to know legally who we can sign and whether it's the right thing to do," said Udal. "But the names are endless. We could look at McCullum or someone like that."

New Zealand batsman-keeper McCullum hit 158 from 73 balls during an Indian Premier League match earlier this year.

Middlesex will find out at next week's Champions League draw in Delhi who they are playing when the eight teams are split into two groups.

By then, though, they will be in Antigua preparing for Stanford series games against England, the West Indies and Trinidad.