Somerset youngster Jones insists he has made the right move

There is no chance of divided loyalties for promising batsman Chris Jones, who has set his heart on a county career with Somerset instead of Hampshire.

The talented teenager signed a summer development contract with Somerset CCC this year, after an outstanding season for Somerset YCs in 2008, and earned a call-up to the England Under-17s side.

The 18-year old former Poole Grammar School student has played Southern Electric Premier League cricket for Bashley for the past three seasons, but not even the hypothetical offer of a Hampshire county contract would persuade him to think twice about switching his allegiance to Somerset.

Jones, who is spending the next six months playing club cricket for Sydney University in the New South Wales grade competition in Australia, is planning to combine his economics studies with cricket commitments for the next three years.

"I didn't have a great season for Bashley this year because it was too far to travel, so I missed a lot of games in the second half of the season," said Jones.

"I'm based in Dorset now, I've got a county contract, and I'm proud to be in the Somerset seconds.

"I haven't made a decision about whether I am going to continue playing for Bashley yet but even if Hampshire wanted me to play county cricket for them I would choose Somerset.

"Justin Langer and Marcus Trescothick have advised me develop the right mental approach to one-day and four-day cricket and not to put too much pressure on myself.

"Somerset is the right county for me."