Sangakkara to play for Durham in County Championship to prepare for England series

Veteran Sri Lankan batting star Kumar Sangakkara will reportedly play for defending champions Durham in the next two rounds of County Championship matches.

One of the outstanding batsmen of his generation and ninth on the list of all-time leading Test run-scorers with 11 151 at an average of nearly 59, Sangakkara is set to play for Durham in their four-day games with Yorkshire and Sussex next month.

According to Sport24, Sangakkara is looking to warm up for Sri Lanka's forthcoming tour of England by returning to county cricket with Durham, saying that he is 'immensely grateful' for the opportunity and is looking to make amends for the few runs that he made during his debut for Warwickshire against Durham back in 2007.

Durham coach Jon Lewis said that Sangakkara's signing is a big bonus and believes that he would be a big asset to their county not just with his performances, but with the example he will show to their crop of 'fine young cricketers'.

The current World Twenty20 champions will play England in a lone T20 international at The Oval on May 20 before facing their hosts in a five-match ODI series and two Tests, at Lord's and Headingley, in June, the report added.