SOMERSET bowler Alfonso Thomas will join Sussex on loan for the Royal London One-Day Cup, in a move designed to ensure that the 38-year-old is match fit and fully ready for the final LV County Championship matches of the season.

Somerset director of cricket, Matt Maynard said: “Alfonso isn’t likely to feature for us in the Royal London One-Day Cup but we want to make sure that he is in the best possible condition for our run-in in the LV= County Championship.

“He is an integral part of our four-day squad and his experience and expertise will be vital for us in the last five Championship matches.

“He will play a major part in where we finish in the table and this is why we want him to be playing competitive cricket over the next few weeks.”

“We would not have allowed him to join a county in the same group as us - he will also not be allowed to play against us if we make it in to the knock-out stages of the competition plus we can recall him with immediate effect if we need to.

“The likes of Lewis Gregory and the Overton twins have been playing extremely well this year and this has been highlighted by the fact that they’ve featured in one-day squads for England.

“We therefore feel that they deserve their chance in the 50 over format.”