South African all-rounder Ryan McLaren will represent Middlesex in this season’s Twenty20 campaign.

McLaren joins Middlesex as their second overseas signing for this year’s competition, following the arrival at Lord’s of Australian Chris Rogers, who will represent the Club in all forms of the game as Middlesex’s registered overseas player in 2011.

Having narrowly missed out on qualification for the quarter finals in 2010, Middlesex will be hopeful of progressing from the group stages this year, and have secured McLaren’s services for the duration of the tournament, including the knock-out stages, should they reach them.

McLaren’s stock in Twenty20 cricket has risen dramatically in recent years, since he rocketed into the spotlight when taking a hat-trick for the Kent Spitfires in the 2007 final, to see his side to a four wicket victory over Gloucestershire.

In 2008 he was once again instrumental in steering Kent to twenty20 finals day, only to lose out to Middlesex in the final, despite dismissing Middlesex’s danger-men of the day Tyron Henderson and Owais Shah.

McLaren’s twenty20 exploits attracted the attention of Indian Premier League giants, the Mumbai Indians, who signed him to the franchise for their 2009 and 2010 IPL campaigns.

In 2010, McLaren played in eleven IPL group matches, averaged over 22.2 with the bat, and once again played a major role in leading his side to the final of the tournament.

McLaren has over 630 twenty20 career runs to his name, at an average of 21.00, alongside 76 Twenty20 career wickets at an average of just 26.78.

On signing Ryan McLaren, Middlesex’s Angus Fraser commented: “Middlesex CCC have thought long and hard about who to sign as a second overseas t20 player for the coming season and it was unanimously agreed that a high quality all-rounder would provide the club with the player it is looking for.

"Ryan McLaren fits that bill.

"Ryan is an extremely good cricketer who is unlucky not to be in South Africa's World Cup Squad. He offers explosive hitting when batting, experience and nous when he has the ball in his hand and energy and athleticism in the field. He has a wealth of t20 experience too, and we are looking forward to welcoming him to Lord's."

On joining Middlesex, McLaren himself added: “I am thrilled to be joining the Middlesex Panthers for their 2011 twenty20 campaign and am excited about making Lord’s my home during the summer.

"I have felt in good form in the Pro20 in South Africa and am really looking forward to doing all I can to ensure that Middlesex have a successful twenty20 campaign.”