Bashley (Rydal) left-arm quick Tom Barber has signed a professional contract with Middlesex, which will tie him to Lord’s until at least the end of the summer.
The 21-year old former Hampshire Academy paceman, who made two List A appearances at the Ageas Bowl in 2014, has been training with the County Champions since last winter.
Barber was taken to the city by Middlesex’s Wimborne-based Richard Scott and produced two fearsomely quick spell when he made his British Gas Southern Premier League debut for Bashley against Alton last week.
“He took 4-27, snapped one stump clean in half and hit one Alton batsmen on the lid,” said Bashley captain Michael Porter.
“He was bowling so quick Chris Ridley (wicketkeeper) and myself were standing almost on the edge of the 30-yard fielding circle.”
Good news for unbeaten Premier Division leaders South Wilts is that Barber is not playing in tomorrow’s top of the table clash at the BCG (11am), which sees Premier Division cricket return to the traditional red ball game.
“Tom’s been playing for Middlesex seconds in a three-day friendly match at Richmond this week, so is resting up,” Porter explained.
Bashley have a more an adequate replacement lined up, with Dorset’s teenage left-armer Brad Currie set to play his first game of the season.
Currie, 17, is taking a break from his A-level studies at Millfield and joins the Surrey Academy once he school term ends next month.
Porter is certainly looking forward to the South Wilts which he regards “as massive for us.”
“South Wilts and ourselves are one and two in the log, so it’s a great fixture to launch the all-day Time pennant cricket.
“The four-week white ball/coloured kit trial was a massive success – all the players really enjoyed it – but it’s nice to get back to the traditional stuff, where tactics come into play and batsmen, in particular, can get their heads down and play a long innings.”
South Wilts will again be without Australian Ian Holland, who is in the Hampshire side for the County Championship match against Warwickshire at the Ageas Bowl.
Eddie Abel, who dislocated a finger in a fielding accident against the Academy last weekend, looks a non-starter and will probably be replaced by left-hander Tom Cowley.
Bashley (Rydal): Gates, Digby, Page, Porter, Vaughan, Ridley, Thomson, Wilson, Watkins, Ridley, Currie.
South Wilts: Wade, Cowley, Mynott, Hayward, Cranch, Draper, Hibberd, Evans, Pittman, Warner, Murray.
The 21-year old former Hampshire Academy paceman, who made two List A appearances at the Ageas Bowl in 2014, has been training with the County Champions since last winter.
Barber was taken to the city by Middlesex’s Wimborne-based Richard Scott and produced two fearsomely quick spell when he made his British Gas Southern Premier League debut for Bashley against Alton last week.
“He took 4-27, snapped one stump clean in half and hit one Alton batsmen on the lid,” said Bashley captain Michael Porter.
“He was bowling so quick Chris Ridley (wicketkeeper) and myself were standing almost on the edge of the 30-yard fielding circle.”
Good news for unbeaten Premier Division leaders South Wilts is that Barber is not playing in tomorrow’s top of the table clash at the BCG (11am), which sees Premier Division cricket return to the traditional red ball game.
“Tom’s been playing for Middlesex seconds in a three-day friendly match at Richmond this week, so is resting up,” Porter explained.
Bashley have a more an adequate replacement lined up, with Dorset’s teenage left-armer Brad Currie set to play his first game of the season.
Currie, 17, is taking a break from his A-level studies at Millfield and joins the Surrey Academy once he school term ends next month.
Porter is certainly looking forward to the South Wilts which he regards “as massive for us.”
“South Wilts and ourselves are one and two in the log, so it’s a great fixture to launch the all-day Time pennant cricket.
“The four-week white ball/coloured kit trial was a massive success – all the players really enjoyed it – but it’s nice to get back to the traditional stuff, where tactics come into play and batsmen, in particular, can get their heads down and play a long innings.”
South Wilts will again be without Australian Ian Holland, who is in the Hampshire side for the County Championship match against Warwickshire at the Ageas Bowl.
Eddie Abel, who dislocated a finger in a fielding accident against the Academy last weekend, looks a non-starter and will probably be replaced by left-hander Tom Cowley.
Bashley (Rydal): Gates, Digby, Page, Porter, Vaughan, Ridley, Thomson, Wilson, Watkins, Ridley, Currie.
South Wilts: Wade, Cowley, Mynott, Hayward, Cranch, Draper, Hibberd, Evans, Pittman, Warner, Murray.
