No Gayle Forecast in Somerset

Chris Gayle looks set to return to the West Indies set-up for the Test series against England after turning his back on a deal to play for Somerset.

The big-hitting Jamaican left-hander has not played for his country for more than a year following a spat with the WICB - with Gayle having agreed to play Twenty20 for Somerset.

Somerset Deny Ponting Talk

Somerset insist they are not in discussions to sign former Australia captain Ricky Ponting amid speculation he could join a county club this season.

Reports have suggested that Ponting could return to Somerset, where he enjoyed a brief stint in 2004, in the second half of the season to push his claims for an Ashes place next summer. 

The 37-year-old has found himself out of favour with Australia's one-day international set-up with his Test career only revived following a stellar home series against India in the winter. 

Ponting has previously admitted his desire to return to county cricket and while Somerset would not rule out a move, they have not begun talks. 

'We are not in active discussions for that to happen at this point,' a spokesman said. 'It would be wrong to suggest that you would not want to wish to sign a player like Ricky Ponting but it is not a highway we are travelling down at the moment. 

'We are keeping our options open at this point.'

Somerset have already signed South Africa's rising star Vernon Philander for the opening part of the season, but the quick bowler will be unavailable once the Proteas' tour of England begins in early July. 

That has opened up the possibility of a move for Ponting, with Somerset director of cricket Brian Rose saying it was an option he would like to explore. 

After captaining Tasmania to defeat in the Sheffield Shield final this week Ponting would be without any first-class cricket until Australia's series against South Africa next winter. 

The right-hander hinted he would like to fill that time with a county move earlier this year, when he held a press conference admitting his ODI career was over, but was concerned there would be no vacancies for him. 

'To be totally honest I think most of the county sides would already have their international players signed in and locked in for next season anyway - probably at the moment that's an outside chance for me to go and play county cricket,' he said. 

'There's no doubt that I need to be as well prepared as possible for I think it's the start of November in Australia when the Test series starts (against South Africa).'

But with Somerset, and a number of other counties, still yet to fill their overseas roster for the whole season Test cricket's third-highest run-scorer could yet appear in county ranks this term.

Gayle for Somerset T20

Somerset have signed West Indies opener Chris Gayle as their overseas player for the 2012 Twenty20 campaign.

Kieron Pollard is unavailable due to the Windies' tour of England, but Gayle is not expected to be involved following a contractual dispute.

"I'm delighted to be heading to Somerset," said Gayle. "Hopefully I can make a key contribution to their T20 campaign this year.

Left-hander Gayle captained West Indies between 2007 and 2010.

With Marcus Trescothick, Craig Kieswetter, Jos Buttler, James Hildreth and Peter Trego in their hard-hitting top order, Gayle's arrival will only help increase Somerset's chances of winning the Twenty20 this summer.

They have finished runners-up in the past two years, qualifying for the Champions League last autumn in India, where they reached the last four.

Gayle, who spent a short spell with Worcestershire in 2005, now has vast experience in Twenty20, having hit almost 3,000 runs at 39.58 in 85 matches, including 195 sixes, as well as taking 47 wickets at 31.19 at an economy rate of 7.47.

Apart from 20 appearances for West Indies, he has also appeared for Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League, Western Australia Warriors and Sydney Thunder in the Australian Big Bash, as well as Matabeleland Tuskers in Zimbabwe.

"We are delighted to have been able to sign Chris for this season," said Somerset director of cricket Brian Rose. "He is a tremendously exciting player and one of the people who would get into any world T20 XI.

"Chris is a tremendous all-rounder. His batting is outstanding, he bowls and can open the attack with his off-spinners and he is also a brilliant fielder, so we are absolutely delighted."

Kieswetter Agrees Somerset 2014 Deal

Craig Kieswetter has agreed a new deal with Somerset until the end of 2014.

The 24-year-old England wicketkeeper-batsman has also decided not to take part in the Indian Premier League, meaning he will be available for his county for the whole of next season.

"It's superb news for his own personal development and the progress of Somerset," director of cricket Brian Rose told BBC Somerset.

South Africa-born Kieswetter made his first-class debut for Somerset in 2007.

He averaged 57 in nine CB40 innings last season, including two centuries, and has shown his worth in England's one-day set up, scoring 72 not out against Sri Lanka in July and 63 against India in October.

"I am delighted to extend my time at Somerset where I have been since I was 17 years old," said Kieswetter.

"To have come over and be associated with Somerset with the way that they are developing and continually challenging for everything on the county circuit is something that I am proud of.

"I hold the club very dear to my heart and I want to be part of the success in the future so I am delighted and very humbled to extend my stay."

Commenting on Kieswetter's decision not to compete in the IPL next season, Rose added: "For his age and connections, I think it's a very clever decision.

"He needs to put Matt Prior [England wicketkeeper] under the kosh and develop his own test career and to do that he's got to get first-class hundreds, so he's got to play county cricket."