Somerset sign White and Cullen

Cameron White has shown his promise as a legspinner and a hard-hitting batsman © Getty Images

Somerset have named Cameron White and Dan Cullen, the Australian spinners, as their two overseas players for 2006 and have also recruited Charl Willoughby, the South African left-arm seamer, from Leicestershire on the Kolpak ruling.

White, 22, is captain of Victoria and has played five one-day internationals for Australia while Cullen, 21, from South Australia, is rated as the most promising offspinner in the country.

Willoughby played for Leicestershire during 2005 but has been snapped up by Somerset to bolster their new-ball attack, which has been injury-prone over the last few years as Andrew Caddick and Richard Johnson have suffered under the workload.

Brian Rose, the director of cricket, told somersetcountycc.co.uk that the club closely assessed which areas they needed to strengthen ahead of next season. "We looked at our strengths and weaknesses and decided that we have a potentially fine batting line-up with a lot of talented and improving young players.

"We have had to plan for the possibility of Ian Blackwell being on England duty for part of the season. We also feel we have two good young wicketkeepers and I think most supporters would agree that what we lack is bowling strength.

"It was therefore decided to try and give the captain a greater variety of options, which we have done by signing a left-arm seamer, a leg-spinner and an off-spinner."

Rose said that White and Cullen will bring an added dimension to the Somerset attack and that the club will benefit from two young players with plenty to prove. "Cameron White clearly has qualities of character to be captain of Victoria at such a young age. As well as being a talented leg-spinner, he can bat at five or six, with the potential to go even higher in the order.

"Dan Cullen is developing into an excellent offspinner and has been highly recommended to us by people who know their cricket. Both he and Cameron will be desperate to impress ahead of the next Ashes series so we will be employing two very determined young players."