John Francis believes that he has boosted his England chances by leaving Hampshire for Somerset.

Hampshire product Francis signed a three-year contract with his new county last week after refusing to put pen to paper at the Rose Bowl last month.

And the left-handed batsman reckons he has more chance of fulfilling his international ambitions with Somerset, where former Hampshire duo Kevin Shine and Mark Garaway are the coaches, than he did at the Rose Bowl.

Francis, 22, said: "I'm a professional cricketer and because of that I want to further my career as best I can. I want to play for England and in order to do that I felt I needed to go elsewhere.

"Having the potential to play well in first class cricket is one thing but not being chosen for the England Academy this year made me realise that I needed to do something about it.

"I need a good pitch that I can feel confident on and at Somerset I'll have coaches studying me throughout the year and will be there whenever I need them.

"The coaching staff at Somerset work well as a group and that professionalism is what I need. I'm taking a risk but sportsmen have to take risks if they want to get where they want to go and this is one I had to take.

"I'm not saying Somerset is better than Hampshire but I think they have an environment that will suit me better, one that I can thrive on."

Francis has linked up with elder brother Simon, a seam bowler spending the off season with the England Academy two years after being released by Hampshire.

And learning from the likes of Australia one-day captain Ricky Ponting, one of Somerset's overseas players next year, and England batsman Marcus Trescothick on the most batter friendly ground in the country is another big attraction for the former King Edward VI pupil, who had been with Hampshire since he was 11.

"Signing for Somerset is a professional decision, cricket comes first, but playing with Simon will be a bonus," he admitted.

"We get on very well, we're best mates as well as brothers. Being close in age and having similar interest helps, we've always been there for each other in the past, and he's always telling me about how well he is progressing at Somerset.

"Hopefully I'll improve as much as he has. I feel that I can bat anywhere in the top five, I just want to go out and bat, knuckle down and give it my all."

Francis's Loughborough University commitments meant he never played a full season for Hampshire but he disappointed with the bat after graduating midway through last season.

He averaged 32.22 in one-day cricket but only scored 211 runs at 19.18 in the county championship.

Hampshire Cricket have complained to the England and Wales Cricket Board about the manner of Francis's move, but will not be taking the matter further.

Chairman Rod Bransgrove said: "We can't point to any hard evidence that Somerset approached John Francis while he was under contract to us so it is not a matter worth pursuing. But it leaves a bad taste in the mouth because John kept out a committed Hampshire player all the time he was here."