SOMERSET have re-signed New Zealand international Corey Anderson for the 2018 T20 Blast.

Anderson played just four matches in the 2017 campaign before injury brought a premature end to his stay in Taunton, but the big-hitting 27-year-old is available for all of this summer's tournament.

Anderson said: “I’m really excited to be returning to Somerset for this year’s Vitality Blast.

"Having had my time at Taunton cut short with injury last season, I feel I have unfinished business and I hope I can help Somerset go all the way in 2018.”

Somerset director of cricket Andy Hurry said: “We are delighted to have secured Corey for the entire Vitality Blast campaign.

"I believe that continuity throughout this competition is going to be key in achieving success and therefore it was crucial for us to be able to bring in a high-quality player who would be available for the duration of the tournament."

Anderson scored 142 runs in the four matches he played for Somerset last summer at a staggering strike rate of 184.42, including 81 from just 45 balls on his debut against Surrey at the Oval.

The all-rounder has played 29 IT20s for his native New Zealand, with a top score of 94 not out from 41 balls (with 10 sixes) against Bangladesh in January 2017, while Anderson has featured in exactly 100 domestic T20 matches in competitions around the world.

He also scored a 36-ball century for New Zealand against West Indies in January 2014, an innings which broke the then record for the fastest ever ODI hundred, an accolade now held by AB de Villiers.