Somerset have signed two 18-year-olds from King's College in Taunton.

All-rounder Craig Meschede and opening batsman Alex Barrow have joined after completing their A-levels.

Meschede has penned a two-year contract and is being tipped to play first-team cricket this season. Born in South Africa, he has a similar hard-hitting style to Craig Kieswetter.

He qualifies to play for Somerset as a non-overseas player as he has a German passport through his father. He has been going to school in Taunton since April 2008.

"I think he's an exciting talent who is at the same stage in his career as Craig Kieswetter was when he joined us in 2006," said director of cricket Brian Rose. "He has a similar latent talent."

Meschede, who has played West of England Premier League cricket for Bridgwater, has been starring for Somerset's Second XI this season.

"He scored a hundred at the Oval against Surrey's Chris Tremlett and Stuart Meaker for the seconds and he really looked the part. I don't think it will be a long time before he is pushing for a first-team place," added Rose.

"South African boys do mature a lot quicker, but he has got an EU passport and he is fully qualified to play for Somerset."

"We have known him since he was 15 and he has played a lot of cricket for us and he knows everyone from King's and Millfield from playing against them.

"His batting is his great strength but he's not a bad (seam) bowler and he is a good fielder too."

Barrow is from Bath and plays his league cricket for his hometown club. He has been part of the county academy for several years. He has also been a second-team regular and is now under contract for this season and the 2011 campaign.

England Under-19 star Jos Buttler has enjoyed a superb first full season for Somerset this year and is also a former pupil at King's.

Former Somerset favourite Dennis Breakwell coaches cricket at King's and both Barrow and Meschede have credited the left-arm spinner for helping his development.

King's was recently named the Wisden cricket school of 2009, although six of the current Somerset squad were educated at Millfield.

Somerset are back in Twenty20 action tomorrow afternoon when Sussex visit Taunton in the latest round of Friends Provident t20 fixtures (5.30pm).