BARNSLEY Woolley MW have brought in two players with international experience as they look to challenge for the league title this season.
The Shaw Laners finished third in the ECB Yorkshire Premier South last season, while also winning the league’s Twenty20 Blast for the second successive year.
They have lost captain Beck Frostick, who emigrated to Australia, and Aussie overseas star Jake Weatherald.
Liam Johnson has taken over as captain and Jacob Cumming, an opening batter from New Zealand, has come in as the overseas player.
Cumming, 20, has played 17 First Class games for Otago in New Zealand’s equivalent of the County Championship and represented his country’s under 19s as well as the ‘A’ team in warm-up matches against England and Bangladesh.
He will be joined by fellow Kiwi Nick Robinson who will be the overseas player for the second team.
Johnson said: “It seems to be a trend that teams are going for younger overseas players.
“That was the original idea but, when other teams started to bring in big names, we felt we had to follow suit.
“I work nights so I have watched Jacob play regularly in New Zealand on a stream.
“I have been really impressed.
“He’s a very good batter and seems a down to Earth lad.”
Barnsley have also signed George Richardson who has represented Jersey in the European Cricket League.
Johnson said: “I was sent some footage of him and I just said: ‘Yeah, get him.’
“He’s a big tall fast bowler who rushes batters.
“I think we will have the best bowling attack in the league.
“Adam Copley is one of the best if not the best seam bowler in the division.
“Harvey Round is still 18 but has been playing for Yorkshire’s second team.
“Then our spinners are still unrivalled in the league.
“We just need the batting to kick on but we think it will with Jacob and some improving young players.”
Does Johnson believe his side can challenge for the title this season?
“We’re shaping up well.
“All our players are all here including the overseas guys and we’re netting intensely.
“We should have a good season.
“We want to go two better than last year.
“There are one or two clubs who have signed really well. We’ve never splashed as much cash as others, we like developing local players.
“This team has been a project for a couple of years but now the young players need to flourish and deliver.
“I have no doubts that they will.
“It’s very exciting.”
