Muralitharan is back for Twenty20 competition

Muttiah Muralitharan will be back for a second season as Gloucestershire's overseas star in the Friends Life t20 competition this summer.

The Sri Lanka spin bowling legend has just confirmed his availability to the county and will return in time for their opening game against arch-rivals Somerset at Bristol on June 14.

Muralitharan joined Gloucestershire exclusively for Twenty20 cricket last season and proved a huge attraction. He sent down more overs than any other Gloucestershire bowler in the competition and finished joint top wicket-taker with 12.

Now supporters can look forward to seeing the man with the most Test wickets in history demonstrating his art at the County Ground, Bristol, again in 2012.

Muralitharan, said: "I thoroughly enjoyed my first T20 season with Gloucestershire and I am looking forward to returning to the club."

Gloucestershire Director of Cricket John Bracewell added: "As a side, we are delighted that Murali is returning.

"His experience was invaluable last year, but given the shortness of the T20 game and the amount of rain-affected matches we had, we did not see the best of him. "I know our players gained a great deal from having Murali in and around our dressing room. "His enthusiasm and love for the game, combined with his exceptional skills, are something that will excite any crowd."

The Somerset match is expected to be a sell-out so the club are urging supporters to buy tickets early by visiting the club's website via the following link www.gloscricket.co.uk/ticketing/admission- prices.