Somerset have pulled off a major coup by signing big-hitting West Indies superstar Chris Gayle for six NatWest T20 Blast matches.
The 35-year-old, regarded as one of the best sprint-format players in the world, will arrive at Taunton on May 22 or 29, depending on when his Indian Premier League commitments end, and will remain with the club until June 13.
Gayle, a World T20 winner in 2012, is the latest international player to sign up to represent Somersetin the Blast, following the captures of Pakistan paceman Sohail Tanvir and New Zealand all-rounder Corey Anderson.
Somerset director of cricket Matt Maynard said: “Signing a world-class player of the quality of Chris Gayle is tremendously exciting for the club.
“He will be a tremendous addition to our already extremely strong squad. He is an inspirational character and we are delighted to be bringing him to Somerset.
“We have a number of overseas players on the roster for the 2015 campaign and Chris’ arrival and registration will give us a number of options which we will look at as we approach each competition.”
Gayle has a wealth of experience at international level after playing 103 Tests, 269 one-day internationals and 45 Twenty20s for the Windies, hitting 1,406 runs at an average of 35.15 in the latter.
He has also played 195 domestic T20s, blasting 6,975 runs at 42.01 with a strike-rate of 147.18 and a top score of 175 not out, completing his century in record time, off 30 balls.
As well as the IPL, the destructive left-hander - with 14 T20 centuries and 58 fifties to his name - has featured in the Big Bash League, Caribbean Premier League and Bangladesh Premier League.
He hit the headlines at the World Cup last month after smashing a double-century in West Indies’ Pool B victory over Zimbabwe at the Manuka Oval in Canberra.
Gayle, who agreed to join Somerset in 2012 before the move fell through, had a spell in county cricket with Worcestershire in 2005.
Gayle, also a useful off-spinner, said: “I’m excited about joining Somerset for the NatWest T20 Blast this year.
“Many of the club’s members and supporters will know that I came close to playing for the county in 2012 and I have always felt that, if I was able to, I wanted to honour that commitment to Somerset.
“I’m looking forward to coming to Taunton and scoring some runs”.