Somerset may be sitting bottom of the NatWest T20 Blast South Group after a difficult campaign, but their side is anchored by an international batsman of the highest pedigree, in Mahela Jayardene.
The 39-year-old Sri Lankan veteran has proven himself as a destructive and consistent batsman across all formats, over his 21-year playing career and is a now lynchpin for a faltering Somerset side in the T20 competition.
Although he was accompanied by Chris Gayle in the first half of the tournament – with limited success, it has to be said – Gayle's departure to the Caribbean Premier League has seen Jayawardene move up the order, opening the innings alongside former Glamorgan man Jim Allenby.
Jayawardene oozes class in his batting and his untimely retirement from the national side, which coincided with fellow batting star Kumar Sangakkara calling time on his caeer, has seen Sri Lanka endure a fall from grace. He has been sorely missed by the national side.
In that time, Jayawardene has had spells with Sky Sports, imparting his knowledge on viewers, as well as a hit-and-miss T20 stint with the Taunton-based county.
He has enjoyed innings of 51 (versus Sussex Sharks at Hove), 45 not out against Hampshire at Taunton and 36 against Surrey last week at The Kia Oval. Yet Somerset have struggled, winning only three T20s from a possible 12 matches. Nevertheless, Glamorgan will be on their guard, in the knowledge that Jayawardene can change a game in a matter of overs.
As well as a glittering international career, the batsman has featured in some of the world's biggest and best T20 leagues: appearing for Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League in Austraila, Kings XI Punjab and the Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League, as well as for the Jamaica Tallawahs in the CPL.
Mahela Jaywardene In Numbers
149 Tests
11,814 Test Runs
55 T20 Internationals
207 Career T20s
5,020 Career T20 Runs
Strike Rate of 129.84
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