CAPTAIN Chris Park insisted the "time was right" to give Lymington's Ed Ellis his full debut for Dorset.

Ellis scored 537 runs in the Southern League last season at an average of 38.36 – including a blistering 140 against Bashley.

The 21-year-old, also a talented wicketkeeper, helped his cause with an unbeaten 65 for Dorset Leopards against Bournemouth University at Wimborne last Sunday.

He will take his place in the middle order for Sunday's season-opening Unicorns Trophy trip to Devon (11am).

Park told the Dorset Echo: “We felt the time was right to get Ed into the batting line-up. He has impressed during the winter.”

Somerset leg-spinner Max Waller and former Hampshire left-arm seamer Tom Barber are included but Ryan Scott and James Hayman miss out.

Park added: “There were some really tough calls because the squad is getting stronger.

“To have a spin line-up of Max Waller, Sam Thomson and Jigar Naik is brilliant.”

Dorset: Arnold, Waller, Webb, Ellis, Naik, Porter, Thomson, C Park, Wolstenholme, Currie, Barber. Twelfth man: Digby.