Cricket: Somerset signs Mahela for NatWest T20

English county cricket side Somerset has signed former Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene for the upcoming season of the NatWest Twenty20 Blast. 

Jayawardene will be featured in the majority of Somerset's NatWest T20 Blast campaign.

Jayawardene had said that Somerset is a really good club with a long history and that he hopes to help bring success to the county.

"The club has a tradition of successful overseas players and I will be doing my best to join that illustrious list."

Director of cricket for Somerset Matthew Maynard had said that Jayawardene's inclusion will draw the crowds this summer.

"Mahela is a batsman of undoubted class who scores his runs all around the wicket. When a player of his experience and class becomes available, you have to snap them up. He is an experienced international captain and the squad will certainly benefit from having him around the dressing room."

"He is a true professional and will have a major influence both on and off the field for us during the NatWest T20 Blast campaign. To have the top two run scorers in the history of the ICC World T20 walking out in to the middle at Taunton is something that I hope the members and supporters will be looking forward to."