SOMERSET County Cricket Club has announced two new signings ahead of the 2016 season. 

Australian batsman Chris Rogers has signed a one year contract with the county and he will be joined at Taunton by young Kent wicketkeeper Ryan Davies who has put pen to paper on a three year deal.

Left hander Rogers, who will be playing County Championship cricket for Somerset has consistently been a prolific run scorer at state and county level and has been an integral part of recent Australian Test sides.

The 38-year-old has played in 25 Test matches for Australia and scored 2015 runs at an average of 42.87 with a top score of 173 coming at Lord’s during this year’s Ashes series.

He has also scored five Test centuries.

In his 297 First Class matches he has scored 24,460 runs at an average of 49.81 with a top score of 319. He has also amassed an impressive total of 73 centuries and 116 half centuries during his First Class career.

Rogers has a good deal of experience of the English County game having previously represented Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Middlesex.

After agreeing terms with Somerset, he said: “I’m really pleased to be joining a Club of the stature of Somerset.

"I have always enjoyed playing cricket in England and as soon as I heard that Somerset were interested I wanted to make it happen.

"There have been quite a few Australian players who have done really well down at Taunton and hopefully I can add my name to that list. I’m looking forward to the challenge and can’t wait to get started.”

18-year-old Davies, who has represented England at Under 19 level, joined Kent Cricket Academy as a 13-year-old and was offered a professional contract for the 2015 season after Geraint Jones left the Club.

He made his First Class debut for Kent against Derbyshire in June and went on to feature in a total five First Class matches taking nine catches in the process.

He also played in three NatWest T20 Blast matches for the Spitfires where he took four catches and also claimed a stumping.

On signing for Somerset Davies said: “I am really excited to be signing for Somerset and would like to thank everyone at Kent for their help and support over the years.

"There are some really good players in the Somerset squad and I am looking forward to working with all of them. This is an exciting time for me as I take my career to the next stage with Somerset.”

Somerset Director of Cricket Matt Maynard was delighted to announce the two acquisitions.

He added: “These are great signings for the Club,” he said.

“Chris Rogers is an outstanding batsman with an excellent attitude towards the game. He will score runs on the field and will have a positive impact off it as well.

"He is an excellent professional and our young players will learn a lot from him.

“Ryan Davies is a great young talent. He has already represented England at age group level and I am excited about how we can help him develop in to the cricketer that we all think he can become.”