Blues look to Dilshan
03/15/2010 09:23:33 AM
New South Wales has gained an early advantage in its quest to regain the KFC Big Bash title, the Blues signing big hitting Sri Lankan batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan for next season's Twenty20 competition.
Currently playing for IPL side Delhi Daredevils, Dilshan boasts an international Twenty20 batting average of 31.94 with a strike-rate of 129.42.
He was one of the stars during last year's ICC T20 World Championship in England, scoring 317 runs with a top score of 96 not out against the West Indies in the semi-final off 57 balls, an innings which won him an ICC award for the T20 performance of the year.
Dilshan has also played 60 Tests for his country, 174 one-day internationals and 23 T20 Internationals.
Cricket NSW chief executive David Gilbert said the Blues are delighted with the signing.
"Tillakaratne Dilshan is an outstanding all-round player. As well as being one of the world's most destructive batsmen in Twenty20 cricket, he brings a wealth of international experience to our team," Gilbert said.
"We look forward to him playing a leading role in helping NSW win next season's Big Bash and thereby qualifying for the Champions League."