Netherfield Cricket Club sign Indian all-rounder Shrikant Mundhe

The 32-year-old, who currently plays for Nagaland in his home country, joins the Parkside Road outfit in great form after helping his team to victory in The Vijay Hazare Trophy, where he scored a century and picked up seven wickets.

He already has experience in English conditions, having played for Colwyn Bay and Cockermouth while also having two spells with Harborne Cricket Club.

And Mundhe, whose last spell in the UK was back in 2018, left his mark scoring a stunning 1,069 runs and claiming 39 wickets.

PLAYER: All rounder Shrikant Mundhe joins Netherfield

The star's first-class record is even more impressive where he has amassed 2,351 runs from 64 matches while picking up 174 wickets.

Netherfield, who had confirmation from the ECB that the season would get under way on Saturday, April 17, have also confirmed that Ben Barrow will remain as first-team captain.

Barrow, who now enters into his sixth season, will be keen to guide his team to success and build on a disjointed 2020 campaign where the Northern League Competition was changed into a 40-over league due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, despite the difficulties of last season, Netherfield can take great heart after fielding one of their youngest squads for many years, where they won the Twenty-20 Trophy following a dramatic victory against Simon Kerrigan’s Fulwood & Broughton.

The club’s captain shared his thoughts on the season ahead and spoke of his delight in the signing of Shrikant.

SIGNED: Shrikant Mundhe

“It’s been a very long winter without the usual winter nets and social evenings," he said. "However, everyone at the club is looking forward to the season as much as ever and with a very positive outlook. We have signed Shrikant Mundhe who is an experienced all-rounder and has performed very well in the UK and at home in India.

“We always sign our professional based on very good recommendations and Shrikant is no exception.

“He seems like a great character and someone who will be huge asset both on and off the field. We hope to welcome him to the club in the first week of April.

“Regarding the season, we are hoping to push forward as a club; we had a very young side last year and played some good cricket at times. We have managed to add several new additions to the club which will really improve the competition for places in all four senior teams.

“Our younger players will have gained experience from last season and we look forward to watching them develop and win matches for the club.

“At the start of every season we want to be challenging for trophies for all our senior sides.

“Across all four teams we have a blend of youth and experience and we have reasonably high expectations going into what could again be a very different season.”

Netherfield begin their season with an away game at Lancaster with Steve Wilson remaining in charge of the thirds, with Craig Dixon as fourth-team captain.