Derbyshire sign Jayawardene

Mahela Jaywardene will be joining Derbyshire for two and a half months © Getty Images

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Derbyshire have completed the sensational signing of Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene as their overseas player for the start of the 2008 season.

The 30-year-old batsman will join Derbyshire before the end of April and will remain at the club until mid-July - his first spell in county cricket.

Jayawardene boasts a Test average of 49.84 and is one of the current Wisden cricketers of the year, having led Sri Lanka to the final of the 2007 World Cup.

He is the fifth Derbyshire signing in the space of 10 days, following the arrival of Wavell Hinds, Rikki Clarke, Nayan Doshi and John Sadler.

Derbyshire head of cricket John Morris said: “With everything that has happened over the last three or four weeks in terms of players coming to the club, it is even more exciting to think that we have been able to attract a current international captain with the standing in the game of Mahela Jayawardene.

“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.”

With a highest score of 374 – made against South Africa in 2006 - Jayawardene has hit 18 centuries and 29 fifties in a glittering Test career that began a decade ago.

Jayawardene, who took over the captaincy of Sri Lanka in 2006, He has played 261 one-day internationals, scoring 10 hundreds and 42 fifties and maintaining an average of 32.53.

Derbyshire chairman Don Amott said: “Signing such a world-class player and current international captain is a massive boost for the club ahead of the 2008 season.

“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.”

Following Jayawardene’s departure in mid-July, a second overseas player will be appointed until the end of the season.