SOMERSET director of cricket, Matt Maynard believes Mahela Jayawardene will have ‘major influence on and off the field’, after the former Sri Lanka captain agreed a 12-match deal for this season’s NatWest T20 Blast campaign.

Jayawardene, 38, is the all-time leading run scorer in the ICC World Twenty20 competition and joins West Indian batsman, Chris Gayle at the County Ground this summer – and Maynard says his Somerset squad will benefit from the Sri Lankan’s experience.

He said: “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.”

Chard & Ilminster News:

Jayawardene has played in 149 Tests, scoring nearly 12,000 runs at an average of 49.84 with a highest score of 374.

He has also featured in 448 ODIs scoring over 12,000 runs with a best of 144 and has represented his country in 55 T20Is scoring 1493 runs, with a top score of 100.

He currently holds the record for the most runs scored in the ICC World T20 competition, having smashed his way to 1016 runs in 31 matches. Second in that list is Chris Gayle.