SOMERSET have strengthened their Metro Bank One Day Cup squad by signing Johnny Connell. The 23 year old top order batter was formerly at Exeter University has played for several county Second XIs and recently hit 123 for Sussex Seconds against Northants.

He has also been in good form for Berkshire and helped county win the NV Play National Counties Trophy.

Connell also hit a century against Sussex in a T20 Showcase match at Horsham in May which attracted the attention of several counties.

Connell, who has been signed to boost the Somerset squad depleted by a number of regulars who are playing in The Hundred. linked up with the rest of the team ahead of Tuesdays’ Metro Bank opener against Nottinghamshire at Welbeck.

The 23 year old said: “I am really excited. It came out of the blue which was nice. I’m really looking forward to it.

“It’s a bit left-field but the conversations I have had with Hampshire and Sussex were potentially for an end of season signing more than the Metro Bank Cup. Somerset obviously have a lot of players going into the Hundred so I think a spot opened up there and they were pretty keen to get me involved which was nice.”

He added: “I have probably played about a year for Essex in their Second XI and then I had a couple of good knocks at the beginning of this season which caught the eye.”

Somerset’s 50 over squad will be captained initially by fast bowler Jake Ball who will be hoping to emulate the success of the past two seasons when they reached the final in 2024 and the semis a year later.