Somerset have signed former England seamer Jake Ball on a two-year contract following his departure from Nottinghamshire at the end of the 2023 season.
Ball, 32, left Trent Bridge after a 15-year career in which he took more than 400 wickets for the county, as well as winning caps for England in all three formats.
“I’m really looking forward to this new challenge,” he said. “Somerset have recruited an incredible group of guys, and their ambition was one of the things that really attracted me to the club. I truly believe this group of players has what it takes to challenge for the championship and build on the success of winning this season’s Vitality Blast.
“The support Somerset receives is unparalleled at times. I played against Somerset in the Blast this year and the atmosphere was great. The fact that the club was so well supported was another big draw for me. There is a lot of passion for cricket in the area, and I can’t wait to have this crowd on my side now.
“There is a good generation of young players and some excellent qualified professionals. I hope I can add something. I will look to help the young bowlers and hopefully we will compete for even more trophies in the coming years.
Ball, whose last England appearance came in 2018, will effectively fill the senior seamer position vacated by Jack Brooks, after the 39-year-old failed to secure a new contract.
Somerset director of cricket Andy Hurry said: “We are extremely pleased to have signed Jake. He will actually complement our excellent attack, while the information and expertise he brings to the dressing room will likely be of great benefit to our ambitious bowlers and their growth.
“He has a real need to win cricket matches and it was very evident during our discussions that there remains a strong fire burning in him to achieve as much as he can during the match. He is a high quality performer who will ensure we have the depth to manage our means to be truly competitive across all formats during a demanding season.
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