BRIDGWATER Cricket Club has signed West Indian cricket star Carlos Brathwaite for the 2024 Summer season.

The 35-year-old all-rounder from Barbados will join up with the club ahead of this weekend's fixtures.

Braithwaite is the former captain of the West Indies Twenty20 International and was a key member of the team that won the 2016 T20 World Cup as he hit the winning six in the final of the tournament. 

He is due to arrive in Somerset later this week and will be at The Parks in Bridgwater for the team's opening match in the WEPL Premier One match against Sidmouth on Saturday.

Brathwaite won't be playing for the club in that match, instead he will be making his Bridgwater debut on Sunday, April 28 in the ECB National Club Championship when the club take on Midsomer Norton.

His home debut is likely to be May 25th when Bridgwater host Bristol CC at The Parks.

Bridgwater CC director of cricket Scott Sealey explained how the signing came about, giving a lot of credit to Jake Lintott, who played with Brathwaite in Birmingham.

"The signing fell into place well really, we were not intending of having an overseas signing this season just with it being quite tricky logistically to sort," Sealey said.

"However, Carlos knows Jake Lintott well and Jake said he might be coming to England this Summer to play some cricket. So we put in some work behind the scenes and from there Carlos agreed to come and play for us."

Sealey added that the signing will be great for the club and for the town of Bridgwater.

"Carlos' schedule means he will be available for about half of our games this season, so it will be fantastic to have him down at The Parks and it will be great for the town as well," he said.

"Thanks to the sponsors who helped secure the signing, they have been a big help, and to the people of Bridgwater, get down to The Parks this Summer to watch Carlos and the team play some cricket.

"Carlos is ready and keen to put on the Bridgwater kit, he really cant wait to get out there and play."

Bridgwater take on Sidmouth in the WEPL season opener this weekend, while the Thirds host Middlezoy.

On Sunday, the first team take on Midsomer Norton in the ECB Cup and also back at The Parks, Bridgwater Women take on Broadstone CC.

The Women's side of the club has expanded this season with a Second team competing for the first time in the Somerset leagues.

And the juniors section continues to grow as well, with the club now boasting some 15 squads in the junior levels.

There is plenty of action to come this season at Bridgwater CC and it all starts this weekend, so get down and enjoy the match against Sidmouth, it starts at 12 midday.