Somerset have signed Australia Test batsman Matthew Wade as an overseas player for the first half of the 2020 County Championship season. Wade who has played 29 tests and 94 ODIs for Australia has been in prolific form since his return to the test squad. "It's an exciting challenge and one that I'm looking forward to," Wade said after signing. "I got a good taste of English conditions last summer and it'll be good to come back over and to hopefully contribute to Somerset winning matches in the County Championship. "Somerset have got an excellent squad and I'm looking forward to meeting up with the guys and to getting out on the pitch with them. I'm told that Somerset have a bit of a history of Australian players doing well for the Club, so hopefully I can add my name to that list.'' said, Wade.
"He is a world-class performer, he is extremely driven and he is a leader," said Somerset director of cricket Andy Hurry. Somerset will start the 2020 campaign on -12 points after being found guilty of preparing a "poor" pitch for last season's County Championship decider against Essex, which they lost. Somerset's first game of the season will be against Warwickshire at the Cooper Associates Ground in April. The current coach of Australia Justin Langer and former opener Chris Rogers were part of Somerset during their county stint.
