NETHERFIELD Cricket Club has announced the signing of Sri Lanka all-rounder Saliya Saman as their professional for the 2014 summer.

The 28-year-old is a top-order batsman and right-arm medium-fast bowler who arrives at Parkside Road after six seasons with Carlisle – scoring in excess of 2600 runs and taking more than 300 wickets.

The last two seasons have seen Saman top the North Lancashire and Cumbria Premier Division bowling averages and finish among the top five batting averages.

He has played for Sri Lanka at under-17 level, taking part in a triangular series against Bangladesh and India while also representing the under-19s between 2003 and 2005.

During this period, Saman played against the likes of AB de Villiers, Suresh Raina and Robin Uthappa while also being selected for the Sri Lankan Academy.

He is not a total stranger to Netherfield having played the final match of the last season as sub-professional against the Lancashire Cricket Board, taking 3-31.

Netherfield's new recruit is also a qualified ECB Level Two coach who is currently playing in the Inter-Provincial tournament in his native Sri Lanka.