Somerset Welcome Back Jayawardene

15 Jun 2016 | Cricket
Somerset have named Sri Lankan batsman Mahela Jayawardene in a 14-man squad for tonight\'s T20 Blast clash against Glamorgan at Taunton.

Jayawardene joins fellow overseas star Chris Gayle in the Somerset top order, along with the likes of James Hildreth, Peter Trego and Johann Myburgh in an explosive batting lineup.

The hosts are captained by former Glamorgan allrounder Jim Allenby, while both Jamie and Craig Overton are included in the squad.

It has been a mixed campaign for Allenby's side so far in the Blast, winning two and losing two of their opening four matches.

But Director of Cricket Matthew Maynard – also an ex-Glamorgan player and coach – was determined for his side to shake off any rustiness or fatigue ahead of a crucial clash.

He said: "Having back to back games means that there will have been a bit of travelling involved as we (have returned) from Canterbury after Tuesday’s Royal London One-Day Cup game against Kent.

"We welcome back Mahela who will now play in the rest of the NatWest T20 Blast games and of course we will have Chris Gayle in the team.  

"Johann Myburgh played a terrific innings in the game last week against Surrey to see us home so that gives us a few selection headaches ahead of the game but that is a nice place to be.”

The game is another in this season's 'Best In The West' mini-tournament between Somerset, Glamorgan and Gloucestershire in which the Welsh county have the upper hand after two victories over Glos last week.

Tonight's match is due to start at 5.30pm at The Cooper Associates County Ground.

Somerset squad in full: Chris Gayle, Jim Allenby (c), Peter Trego, Mahela Jayawardene, Johann Myburgh, James Hildreth, Roelof van der Merwe, Lewis Gregory, Craig Overton, Jamie Overton, Max Waller, Tim Groenewald, Ryan Davies, Yasir Arafat.