JOSH Davey will make his first class debut for Somerset when they take on New Zealand in a four-day tour match at Taunton, starting tomorrow (Friday).

The Scotland international all-rounder, who took 15 wickets at the World Cup, is rewarded for some impressive performances for Somerset’s second XI – and Davey says he is ‘really pleased and grateful’ for the chance to impress.

“I am very excited that I have been selected for Somerset to play against New Zealand on Friday, because it will be my first team debut for the club,” he said.

“This is big achievement for me and it is something that I have worked hard towards since the autumn of 2013 so I am really pleased and grateful to have the opportunity.

“It’s nice that all of the hard work that I have put in over the last 18 months has paid off - I have had a pretty successful 2015 already, playing for Scotland in the World Cup, I just need to go out there now and do it on the bigger stage for Somerset and show everybody what I can do.

“Hopefully some of the people who will be here will have read about how I got on playing for Scotland in the winter - and now they have got a chance to put a face to the name.”

Veteran duo Marcus Trescothick and Alfonso Thomas are rested for the fixture, so Peter Trego captains the side in his absence. Lewis Gregory is on international duty, so Tom Abell also come sinto the side.

Director of cricket Matt Maynard said: “We are very much looking forward to the visit of New Zealand and it presents us with the opportunity to get some form under our belts for the upcoming Notts game.

“The Kiwis are a good side and we will be putting a strong side out.

“Josh Davey will be making his first class debut and full credit to him for what he has done in the seconds this year where he has performed well.

“He’s been the outstanding player so far and fully deserves his chance.”

“It’s a game we are taking very seriously and we will be pushing New Zealand as hard as we can.

“Hopefully we will see some warm weather and we will get good crowds in to watch us.”

The Somerset team is - Tom Abell, Johann Myburgh, Tom Cooper, James Hildreth, Jim Allenby, Alex Barrow, Peter Trego (capt), Josh Davey, Craig Overton, Tim Groenewald and Abdur Rehman