DORSET have pulled off a huge coup with the signing of star batsman Chris Jones for the summer.

The former Somerset run-getter, a Minor Counties record-breaker in Dorset colours back in 2012, has confirmed he will feature regularly for the Dean Park outfit over the course of the season.

On securing the 24-year-old’s services, county skipper Chris Park told Echosport: “It’s a fantastic signing and it’s great to have him back on board with the Dorset squad and we are looking forward to enjoying the summer with him.

“He is an experienced professional batter and is just what we have been looking for, hopefully he can take us to the next level.

“We have been looking for an experienced head in the top order. We have a lot of promising young cricketers but they still have some learning to do.

“People will learn a lot from having a professional like Chris, who is still in his prime at 24, batting at the other end.

“We will be starting with a similar squad but there might be one or two that break through during the season.”

Dorset will start their pre-season fixtures with a game against the Dorset Leopards XI at Dean Park on Saturday, April 4.

They will then travel to Calne CC to play Wiltshire on Easter Monday before taking on Hampshire Seconds on April 12.