DIRECTOR of cricket John Bracewell believes Muttiah Muralitharan can help transform Gloucestershire from Twenty20 under-achievers to winners.

The Gladiators have been eliminated in the group stages of the shortest format of the game every year since they reached the final in 2007, but with the Sri Lankan spinner now on board for the next two seasons, hopes are high that their fortunes will change.

Bracewell said: “With Muttiah arriving we’re looking at strengthening and challenging more in our T20 programme and that will hopefully make us more competitive to make it into the quarter-finals at least.

“I think he can (have a big impact) because of his enthusiasm. As we know Twenty20 can be a bit of a roll-on thing and if you become fearful of it then you start dreading the next game.

“He will give infection and hopefully that will give us momentum.”

Muralitharan arrived in the country this week after playing for Kochi in the Indian Premier League and was set to make his Gloucestershire debut against Surrey in the Friends Provident T20 at The Oval today (Thursday, 6.30pm).

The 39-year-old has played county cricket for Lancashire and also had a brief spell at Kent, but is yet to win any silverware in England, something he is hoping to change at Gloucestershire.

"That's why I'm here - I want to win trophies, rather than just playing,” he said.

“It will not be easy, because other teams also have good international players.

"Gloucestershire have five or six experienced players, so I think you can build the youngsters in between and hope to do well.

"Twenty20 is all about how you perform on the day. You've got 16 matches and if you win half of those, you'll be in the quarter-finals.

“You tend to lose some, but you shouldn't lose hope if that happens.

“You should stay positive, because you are not going to win every game"

Gloucesterhire all-rounder Will Gidman says the whole squad are looking forward to getting to know Muralitharan.

“I’m hugely excited, what a cricketer,” he said.

“What I’m looking forward to most is getting to know him off the pitch. Everyone always comments about how he plays with a big smile on his face so I’m really hoping to get to know that side of him and feed off his enthusiasm of the game.”

Gloucestershire batsman Kane Williamson came up against Muralitharan twice while playing for New Zealand at the recent World Cup in the sub-continent.

Sri Lanka won on both occasions, with Williamson being stumped off the bowling of his new county team-mate in the group stages.

Muralitharan then helped his side win the semi-final clash between the sides in Colombo before bowing out of international cricket in the final defeat against India.

“Facing him in the nets instead of the game sounds pretty good to me,” admitted Williamson.

“It was tough at the World Cup because security was tight so I didn’t have a chance to talk to him, but I’m looking forward to spending a bit of time with him.”

Gloucestershire’s T20 adventure also takes them to Essex tomorrow (Friday, 7pm), with Muralitharan set to make his home debut at the County Ground in Bristol on Sunday against Sussex (2.30pm).

The game at Bristol is also a family fun day. Advanced ticket prices start at £5 for under-16s and £15 for adults.