A BRAVE teenager with cerebral palsy was bowled over when three cricket superstars sent him birthday messages on Twitter.

Connor Simpson, who turned 17 on Tuesday, was sent tweets by Essex all-rounders Ryan ten Doeschate and Ravi Bopara as well as legendary Australian fast bowler Brett Lee.

Connor, of Pelham Close in Dovercourt, has cerebral palsy, which affects his speech and mobility. He has grown close to Netherlands international Ten Doeschate since he first saw Essex play in Colchester in 2007 with his uncle Carl Jobling.

The Essex players signed Connor’s autograph book and Ryan became a family friend, visiting the family home, sending shirts and bats from all over the globe and providing tickets for Twenty20 finals day.

He has even dedicated two centuries he has made to Connor when he was watching in the crowd.

Connor was hit for six by the messages, especially from Lee, who recently broke television personality Piers Morgan’s ribs bowling at him in the nets Down Under and has 310 Test wickets.

“I was opening my present from my nan at the time but I was so excited,” said Connor. “I even got 14 new Twitter followers from India because of it.”