Thisara signs on for Blast

Sri Lanka allrounder Thisara Perera has signed up for Gloucestershire for the Natwest T20 Blast later this season.
The burly Sri Lankan replaces Gloucestershire’s second overseas professional for the tournament, Australia fast bowler Andrew Tye.
Tye suffered a shoulder injury in May while playing in the Indian Premier League where he had great success with his knuckle ball slower ball variation.
Perera has been in and out of the Sri Lanka team in recent times but has extensive experience in T20 leagues having turned out for the Melbourne Renegades in the 2016/17 season and representing no fewer than five IPL franchises.
ALSO READ: Shamsi to link up with Northants for T20 Blast
A hard-hitting lower-order batsman and cunning seam bowler Perera adds depth to both batting and bowling stocks.
Perera struck a vital fifty in the third ODI against Bangladesh earlier this year but misfired in the Champions Trophy leading to his omission from the Sri Lanka squad to face Zimbabwe in a five match ODI series.
The left-hander is known for his ability to attack spinners in the middle overs but has a weakness against quality pace bowling.
Western Australia batsman Cameron Bancroft is the county’s other overseas player for the summer, playing in all three formats of the game.
Another Australian, and Big Bash winner with the Perth Scorchers, Michael Klinger will lead the team in the Blast competition.
Gloucestershire open their T20 Blast campaign against Middlesex in Cheltenham on 7 July.
Latest
-
News
Dale Steyn heaps praise on Pakistan trio, prefers PSL over IPL
Record South African fast bowler Dale Steyn is full of praise for Pakistan players Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and Babar Azam.
-
News
Chris Gayle sets sights on third T20 World Cup title
West Indies veteran Chris Gayle has set his sights on winning a third T20 World Cup when he makes his return to international cricket.
-
News
Cricket in line to receive significant chunk of £300m sports recovery package
The England and Wales Cricket Board welcomed the support, describing it as “a lifeline for parts of the game”.
-
News
Marcus Trescothick relishing return to ‘special environment’ with England
Trescothick is England’s new batting coach.
-
News
Jack Leach feels here to stay after establishing himself as top England spinner
Leach made his debut almost three years ago in New Zealand but had made only 10 appearances before the turn of the year.
-
News
Kevin O’Brien says century against England helped Ireland ‘reach for the stars’
O’Brien hit a 50-ball 113 as Ireland chased down a target of 328 in the 2011 World Cup.
-
News
Ian Harvey is Gloucestershire interim coach after Richard Dawson joins England
Dawson has accepted the position of ECB elite pathway coach
-
News
Marcus Trescothick, Jon Lewis and Jeetan Patel join England’s coaching staff
Trescothick has left his assistant’s role at Somerset.
-
News
Ben Foakes focuses on squaring the series with England
The tourists are 2-1 down going into the final Test against India.
-
News
Stonewall praises Steven Davies and warns ‘attitudes need to shift across sport’
The 34-year-old wicketkeeper announced he was gay 10 years ago.