ILMINSTER cricketer and Somerset Academy player JT Langridge has been added to the Somerset squad for this year’s Metro Bank One Day Cup.

The 17-year-old left-arm seamer, who plays club cricket for Ilminster CC, has impressed for Somerset Second XI in the last two years.

SCCC Metro Bank One Day Cup coach Paul Tweddle believes that JT will benefit from the experience.

“JT has shown a lot of skill within the Second Team environment, and we also see him as a player of high potential,” he said.

“This is an important opportunity for him to learn from experienced professionals what it means to be a pro cricketer. It will give him the chance to improve his craft and learn more about his game by being around the senior environment.

“This competition gives our young players the chance to experience life as a professional player for a period of time, and we have seen in recent years that they have been able to impact games when given the opportunity. We believe that the same will happen again this year.”

In the warm-up match against Devon at the weekend, Somerset fans got a first look at the left-arm pace of JT Langridge.

He bowled with good pace and was rewarded with the wicket of Ben Privett, caught at mid off by Ned Leonard.