SOMERSET have signed three 23- year-old cricketers – James Burke, Josh Davey and Callum Stewart – on summer contracts. All three appeared regularly for the Second XI in 2013.

Burke is a right-handed batsman and right-arm medium pace bowling all rounder who first played for Somerset Second XI in 2008 and the following season was awarded a contract.

However, he left the club at the end of the 2011 season without making a first team appearance.

After enjoying a successful return with Somerset Seconds in 2013, he played club cricket in South Africa for part of the second half of the winter.

Davey is an all-rounder who was released by Middlesex later in 2013 after three years with the county.

He has spent the off-season off his own bat at the Club working hard within the squad trying to find a home.

Previously, he has appeared for Scotland in 11 ODIs in which he has enjoyed a batting average of 25.40 and a bowling average of 21.33.

He has also appeared in seven first class matches in which he scored 307 runs at an average of 25.58 and took seven wickets at 25.57.

Davey has played in 43 List A matches in which he has scored 891 runs at an average of 24.75 and taken 39 wickets at 30.38.

He has also played in one T20I and 13 T20 matches in which he has a batting average of 14.40 and a bowling average of 26.

Stewart is a right-arm fast bowler and lower order batsman who has played for Herefordshire and, during last summer ,appeared in seven Second XI matches for Somerset in which he claimed 18 wickets at an average of 19.50 with a best of 7 for 33.

Stewart was drafted into the Somerset squad for the pre-season trip to South Africa after Nick Compton withdrew because of injury.

Director of Cricket Dave Nosworthy said: “All three young men have potential and so we have decided to give them the opportunity to train within a world class environment under highly experienced people and coaching staff.

“I look forward to see how they respond and hope that they grab every opportunity.”