SOMERSET CCC have signed Australian batsman Matt Renshaw to replace Cameron Bancroft as their overseas player.

Renshaw will be joining on April 13 and will be available to play until June 30.

He will then return to Somerset on August 19 and remain with the team until the end of the season.

He will therefore be available for both the Specsavers County Championship and the Royal London One-Day Cup competitions and will be in contention to feature in the opening fixture of the season against Worcestershire at the Cooper Associates County Ground which begins on April 20.

Renshaw, 22, was born in Middlesbrough and has played 11 Tests for Australia in which he has averaged 33.47 with a top score of 184 against Pakistan.

His First Class average is 39.40, which includes nine fifties and seven hundreds.

After securing the signing, Somerset Director of Cricket, Andy Hurry said: “It has been important for us to act swiftly, but to remain pragmatic in identifying the best fit for our needs and I am delighted that we have signed Matt.

“Coming to us off the back of a title winning Sheffield Shield season and having made a number of significant contributions with the bat, including three hundred’s in the last five games, he will be arriving with us with a huge amount of confidence.

“He is a player who is highly driven to succeed and has demonstrated the ability to bat for long periods of time, but he also has the ability to move through the gears.

“He is a player of quality, is on an upward trajectory and we feel that he will certainly flourish in our environment”.

After completing his move to Somerset, Matt Renshaw said: “I’m delighted to have the opportunity to play alongside some very experienced players and the exciting young talent that is coming through at Taunton.

“I’ve heard a lot of good things about the Club and I understand that I will be following in the footsteps of some outstanding Australian batsmen. It will be a new challenge for me but it’s one that I’m really looking forward to”.