Cricket - New aussie signs up for Netherfield (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Cricket - New aussie signs up for Netherfield

10:46am Saturday 21st March 2009 in

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NETHERFIELD have signed Australian all-rounder Glen Batticciotto as professional in place of his compatriot Callum Ferguson.

Ferguson’s breakthrough to international cricket means he will not be returning to Parkside Road.

Instead it hello to Batticciotto, a 27-year-old left-handed batsman/right-arm fast bowler.

A former Australian Under-19 player, he has played state cricket for Queensland in their one-day and 20/20 matches this season.

He was the Peter Burge Medal winner for the best player in Grade cricket in 2007-08 and hit 40 in Queenland's victory over Victoria in the One-Day Competition final recently.

Batticciotto - he has a Sicilian father and an English mother - tasted league cricket in this country when spending half a season with Nantwich in the Cheshire Premier League last year.

Netherfield spokesman David Otway said: " We are delighted to have signed Glen and he is due to arrive on March 21.

"He is a bit of an unknown quantity, but he had a great pedigree as a youth cricketer and has been playing very well in one-day matches for Queensland.

"I think we have unearthed a very interesting player who can prove worthy to take on the mantle of the club's previous professionals."

Netherfield's former captain Tommy Prime is retiring from Northern League cricket for business reasons after a successful decade at the club.

“He’s been a great servant and leader, “ said Otway.

In comes Alex Atkinson, a highly regarded 17-year-old batsman from Penrith CC, who is a past North Lancs/Cumbria U21 player of the year and has played at county level.

At Kendal, South African Ross McMillan returns as professional for a second time.

Other changes: Carnforth - new professional is Gareth Pedder, former Morecambe all-rounder. Skipper Adam Hornby off to Sedgwick with Darren Moore taking over. Ryan Nelson returns from Lancaster.

Barrow - Sri Lankan Pasan Wanasinghe re-signs as pro. Cumberland all-rounder off to Millom as pro.

Chorley - Aussie Chris Hartley, wicketkeeper/batsman, plus occasional off-spinner, replaces South African Fiedel de Wet as pro.

Leyland - Pakistan’s Ameer Khan back as paid man with stalwart David Makinson still at the helm.

St Annes - Sri Lankan Dinuka Hettiarchachchi replaces Mansoor Ahmed as pro. New captain is Andy Kellett.

Blackpool - Sri Lankan Sajeewa Weerakoon back as pro, Paul Danson skippers again.

Darwen - South African David Wiese replaces Atif Ashrat. Andrew Cook’s captaincy continues.

Morecambe - Nineteen-year-old South African Wayne Parnell replaces New Zealander Bruce Martin as pro.

Mark Lomas skippers.

Lancaster - Aussie Trent Kelly is new pro, with evergreen Tim Barry leading the side.

Fleetwood - New pro is Victoria wicketkeeper Adam Crosthwaite. Opener/wicketkeeper James Ellis is new captain in place of retiring Wayne Clarke.

Preston - Pro is all-rounder Adam Parker (from Fleetwood).