Gloucestershire bowl over Muralitharan

Muralitharan: 'I am really looking forward to playing for Gloucestershire. It is a young exciting team and I hope I can add some experience to the mix' (AP)

Gloucestershire have pulled off a coup by signing legendary Sri Lanka spinner Muttiah Muralitharan for the next two domestic Twenty20 campaigns.

The 38-year-old will join up with the county after playing his last international tournament for Sri Lanka at the World Cup and then representing Kochi in the Indian Premier League.

Muralitharan, who has played for Lancashire and Kent, said: "I am really looking forward to playing for Gloucestershire. It is a young exciting team and I hope I can add some experience to the mix."

Chris Tremlett is to join England's World Cup squad as a travelling reserve after a spate of injuries to their bowling attack. Tremlett has now fully recovered from a side strain and is in contention to deputise for any of the host of his fellow bowlers who suffered injuries during a tortuous seven-match one-day international series which followed the Ashes Tests in Australia. England lost the ODI series 6-1.

National selector Geoff Miller said: "Whilst the injured bowlers in the 15-man squad are all progressing well, the selectors have decided it would be prudent to have an additional player on hand who is acclimatised in case we need to apply to the Event Technical Committee for a replacement due to injury."