Cricket
Barnard Castle Cricket Club are preparing for a fresh tilt at the NYSD Premier Division after a winter shake-up to the squad. New signing Ed Barnes is already training with the team and overseas professional Sean Whitehead arrives in April.
There is renewed vigour to the side as they put last season’s disheartening campaign behind them.
It was a year to forget for the club with no silverware to show and only being able to muster a fourth-placed league finish.
However, this shows how far the club has come in recent years.
Club captain James Quinn said: “We’ve made massive strides in the last ten years, but we don’t want to rest on our laurels. Last year was disappointing because we are a club that wants to be winning trophies.”
With changes made to the paid quota of players allowed in the league two years ago, last year really showed that to compete at the very top you need to be competitive from player one through to 11.
Barney have taken this on board and showed their true intent with the investment they’ve put in over the winter months.
Barnes has been a professional at county level with Leicestershire and Derbyshire and has 25 first class appearances where he has picked up 42 wickets.
“He’s come in and he’s really impressed us in our pre-season training, he’s kept a few of the lads on their toes in the nets,” said Quinn.
“He’s fitted in with the squad immediately which is great as well, I think he’ll be a fantastic addition to the talent we already have.”
Whitehead has represented various provinces across South Africa and has also represented his country at U19s level.
He also brings with him valuable English experience with Rawtenstall CC and Rochdale CC in the well-respected Lancashire Premier League as well with Elworth CC in the North Staffordshire and South Cheshire League.
He has a first class batting top score of 155 not out and has taken 74 first class wickets with the ball at an average of 23.32. Both players will join Karl Carver at the club who has proved himself invaluable since he arrived at Vere Road.
Averaging 45.47 with the bat and just 15.64 with the ball since joining the club, Carver has single handedly dragged the side to victories throughout his time at the club.
He has raised standards in the field with his mastery in all positions and this must inspire the younger players who are coming through the system.
Former player Ben Usher has taken over the reins as director of cricket and Quinn spoke of the impact he is having.
“He’s come into the set up and worked closely with the side in all aspects; he’s been to the training sessions, and he’ll be overseeing the whole club.”
“It’s a massive advantage for the club to have someone who has as much Premier League experience as him and it’s down to us to utilise that.”
Expectations will be high at the club and the pressure will be on the side as they look to bring silverware back to Barnard Castle once again.
