Oct 24, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene will play English county cricket for Derbyshire next year, the county’s official website said on Wednesday. “I knew that he was the right player after I had spoken to him and I could tell that he has the desire to play county cricket and contribute both experience and flair to Derbyshire’s batting line-up,” said Morris. Jayawardene, 30, will turn out for the county from the end of April to mid-July before returning home for Sri Lanka’s Test commitments, the website said.
“Signing such a world-class player and current international captain is a massive boost for the club ahead of the 2008 season,” Derbyshire chairman Don Amott said.
“I can’t wait to see Mahela — as well as the likes of Rikki Clarke, Nayan Doshi, John Sadler and Wavell Hinds — in action in a Derbyshire shirt and I am sure the members and supporters share my excitement.”
Jayawardene, who leads Sri Lanka in a two-Test series in Australia next month, was voted the International Cricket Council’s captain of the year in 2006.
The 88-Test veteran has scored 6,630 runs at an average of 49.84 with 18 centuries, including a best of 3