DORSET skipper Chris Park is hopeful record-breaking batsman Chris Jones could turn out for the county this season.

The former Somerset ace, who last year retired from the first-class game to pursue a career outside of cricket, held talks with Dorset head coach Alan Willows over the winter about a possible return to the county setup.

Park said: “Things are progressing nicely with Chris. He is away at the moment in Vietnam but is coming back for the summer and doesn’t start his new job in London until September, so it is perfect for the season.

“Another conversation is likely to happen with him in the next couple of weeks and it could look more and more positive.”

Jones, 24, who was raised in Broadstone, hit his maiden first-class century against Australia in a tour match at Taunton in 2013 against a bowling attack featuring the likes of international stars Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle and Nathan Lyon.

In a Dorset shirt, Jones produced innings of 175 and 188 to register a record-breaking haul against Shropshire in 2012.

Dorset have also been back in pre-season training over the past month and were put through their paces by Middlesex head coach Richard Scott, father of all-rounder Ryan Scott.

On their preparations, wicket-keeper batsman Park added: “Richard gave us a different voice to listen to and we focused on our batting for both one-day and three-day cricket, which was excellent.”

Dorset will continue to play at Dean Park this summer after an initial six-month lease agreement was made with new owners Park School.