Sussex have pulled off a major coup by signing Sri Lanka legend Mahela Jayawardene for the first half of the NatWest T20 Blast.
The 37-year-old batsman, set for his maiden taste of county cricket, will be available for the Sharks’ opening seven Blast fixtures .
The first of those is on May 15 versus Kent Spitfires and the sixth is against Surrey on June 14 at Arundel Castle, meaning he could face international team-mate Kumar Sangakkara in the latter game.
A World Twenty20 winner with Sri Lanka last year before retiring from T20 internationals, Jayawardene has scored over 4,000 sprint-format runs at a strike-rate of almost 130.
The classy right-hander’s awesome record includes more than 11,000 runs in both Tests and one-day internationals, with an average of nearly 50 in the former.
Jayawardene, currently representing Sri Lanka at the World Cup, said: “I am really exciting about basing myself down at Hove and playing for Sussex during the first half of the summer.
“Sussex is a great club with a proud history and I want to help them win the NatWest T20 Blast this year.”
Sussex professional cricket manager Mark Robinson said: “It is fantastic news that a player of the calibre of Mahela has agreed to join us.
“His record and his reputation is second to none, and he will also bring into our dressing room his leadership and experience. I’m sure he will be a huge asset to Luke Wright as the new captain, and the whole squad and coaching staff.”
I am so happy to join @SussexCCC. Thank you for warm welcome. Very exited to be part of a great county.
— Mahela Jayawardena (@MahelaJay) March 13, 2015