St Cross Symondians are believed to be on the brink of signing top New Zealand provincial batsman Michael Pollard as their overseas player for the upcoming ECB Southern Electric Premier League season.
The 25-year old has scored over 2,500 runs for Wellington, where he plays alongside Black Caps Cricket World Cup stars Grant Elliott and Luke Ronchi. An ever present in the side, Pollard top scored as Wellington beat Auckland to win New Zealand's inter-provincial twenty20 tournament this winter. In January, he hit 153 for a New Zealand President's Board XI, who beat Pakistan by one wicket in a World Cup warm-up match. St Cross Symondians hope to tie up the Pollard deal in time for next weekend's Premier Division opener against Lymington at the Green Jackets Ground.
Richard Taylor will captain St Cross this season, succeeding New Zealander Bill Walsh, who played as the Winchester club's overseas recruit for the past two summers.
Other departures have seen Hampshire's Lewis McManus join Lymington and opening batsman Matt Drakeley link up with Swindon. Vice-captain Jordan Finney has returned to his roots to play Home Counties Premier League cricket with Cove.
Wicketkeeper Robbie Hadfield has joined from Andover, while St Cross - whose solitary pre-season friendly match is against Langley Manor on Saturday - hope to have Wilf Marriott and Adam Rouse playing this summer.
The 25-year old has scored over 2,500 runs for Wellington, where he plays alongside Black Caps Cricket World Cup stars Grant Elliott and Luke Ronchi. An ever present in the side, Pollard top scored as Wellington beat Auckland to win New Zealand's inter-provincial twenty20 tournament this winter. In January, he hit 153 for a New Zealand President's Board XI, who beat Pakistan by one wicket in a World Cup warm-up match. St Cross Symondians hope to tie up the Pollard deal in time for next weekend's Premier Division opener against Lymington at the Green Jackets Ground.
Richard Taylor will captain St Cross this season, succeeding New Zealander Bill Walsh, who played as the Winchester club's overseas recruit for the past two summers.
Other departures have seen Hampshire's Lewis McManus join Lymington and opening batsman Matt Drakeley link up with Swindon. Vice-captain Jordan Finney has returned to his roots to play Home Counties Premier League cricket with Cove.
Wicketkeeper Robbie Hadfield has joined from Andover, while St Cross - whose solitary pre-season friendly match is against Langley Manor on Saturday - hope to have Wilf Marriott and Adam Rouse playing this summer.
