Enfield's outgoing professional Adam Bracewell says it’s a huge coup to have snapped up new paid man West Indian Lendl Simmons for next season.

The 25-year-old has played three Tests for his country all against England in 2009 and the Dill Hall Laners are impressed to sign someone of Simmons’ calibre.

"He has to be better than me," joked Bracewell, who struggled with the bat last season after moving from amateur status to homegrown professional but is stepping back down to the amateur ranks again for next summer.

"He is an experienced player who has Test experience and we are all excited about him coming next season.

"He has played at every level and it will be a huge lift having him here especially after last season where we were nearer the bottom of the Lancashire League table.

"We heard he was available about six weeks ago and have been working with his agent to get him signed up ever since.

"He has lost his place in the West Indies side and is desperate to get it back so he obviously wanted to come somewhere in the off-season and try and improve and win his place back.

"There are a lot of young lads at the club and Lendl has played cricket against some of the best sides in the world in the Champions League Twenty20 and the World Cup so hopefully his experience will rub off on them.

"He should also be available for the full season which is a huge boost for us.

"It is getting harder and harder to get a professional who will come for the full season with the emerging nations squads and tournaments like that when players can miss three or four weeks so it’s massive to have him here for the full season.

"Getting a sub professional in for games is a nightmare as we have found out in the past."

Enfield have more or less the same squad as last season but Bracewell, who hopes to officially be made captain for next summer’s campaign at the next committee meeting, said: "I am hoping I can persuade one or two more players to come and join us for next season.

"It is hard work but perhaps any players who are 50-50 about coming could be persuaded by the fact we have a professional with Test experience."

Simmons made his First-class debut at 17 and since then has scored 3,586 runs with eight centuries the best of which was 282 for West Indies A against England at St Kitts in 2009.

Simmons will be a huge asset in that he is an opening batsman who bowls right arm medium pace and can also keep wicket.

He has played in the Lancashire League before, playing five matches for Todmorden four years ago.

His uncle is Phil Simmons who played for Haslingden in 1992 and 1993 seasons.

Simmons will be Enfield’s 11th West Indian professional.