DORSET have pulled off a major coup after persuading former Somerset ace Chris Jones to rejoin their Minor Counties ranks.

Jones, who announced his retirement from the professional game at the end of last season, has confirmed he will feature regularly for Dorset this year.

Schooled at Broadstone Middle and Poole Grammar, Jones cracked his maiden first-class century in a tour match for Somerset against Australia at Taunton in 2013.

But he quit Somerset aged just 24 to pursue a career outside of the game.

In his previous spell with Dorset, Jones penned no fewer than three new chapters in the Minor Counties history books and one in the Dorset archives during their Western Division match with Shropshire in July 2012.

He hit 175 and 188 to register a total of 363 runs in his two innings – the highest individual aggregate score in Minor Counties cricket. The feat also saw Jones become the first batsman to score more than 150 in both innings of a match.

Jones, who played club cricket for Corfe Mullen, Poole and Bashley, also shared a third-wicket stand of 240 with Aaron Williams in the first innings – a new Dorset record.

Dorset skipper Chris Park said: “He is an experienced professional batter and is just what we have been looking for.

“We have been looking for an experienced head in the top order. We have a lot of promising young cricketers but they still have some learning to do."

Dorset are due to begin their pre-season fixtures with a game against the Dorset Leopards XI at Dean Park on Saturday.