Devon Cricket Board - Paignton sign South African pace bowler

Paignton sign South African pace bowler

PAIGNTON have signed South African fast-bowler Brady Barends to spearhead their promotion push in the A Division this season.

The first team, under the new captaincy of Andy Kingdon, are looking to gain promotion back into the Premier Division at the first attempt.

Barends has three seasons experience in South African cricket, two with Kwazulu Natal and one with Dolphins, taking 68 First Class wickets.

His best performance with the ball was a nine for 68 haul against Northerns at Pietermaritzburg in the 2010 season.

Barends was on course for all ten as he took nine in a row before spinner Kyle Nipper spoiled it by removing the last man!

New skipper Kingdon, who has replaced Seb Benton for the season ahead, said Berends fills a gaping hole in the bowling attack which was all too apparent last season.

“We didn’t have a frontline bowler all season who could pick up two or three wickets early on and pressurise the opposition,” said Kingdon.

“Brady is coming here looking to impress, not for a holiday. The first thing he asked was could we fix him up with gym membership.”

It looks like being a busy summer ahead at Queens Park, where a fourth team has been started to get some of the club’s promising youngsters playing league cricket. A ladies team is in the pipeline.

Young players are always welcome and an open evening is being held on May 3 for any potential new recruits to sign on. Colts registration for new and existing members takes place the same night.

Paignton will be offering a free taster coaching session from 6- 7pm for boys and girls between the ages of 5 and 13. Level three coach Tim Ward will be in charge.

Ward has recently returned from South Africa where he was coach of the Devon U15 team. He will be supported by other qualified and experienced coaches.

A family barbecue will also be running from 6pm throughout the evening

The club's youth section is thriving, and will be running teams in the U11, U 13B, U 13A, U15, and U 17 South Devon League competition.

Practice for the U 15s and U17s is at Queens Park from 6-7.30pm on Wednesdays, and on Fridays for the U11s and U13s from 5.30-7.30pm.

Paignton’s Sunday Morning Club, for boys and girls aged 5-11, starts on Sunday, May 6 from 10.30am-noon. It will run weekly until the beginning of the school holidays

Training nights for all senior players will be on Tuesday's and Thursday's from 6pm until 8pm, and for the ladies on Tuesday's from 6pm until 7.30pm.

For more information, contact Ward via email tim.wardie@talktalk.net

DCB Ltd, University of Exeter Sports Hall, Stocker Road, Exeter, Devon EX4 4QN Company Registration Number: 7024773