Devon Cricket Board - Adams on way back to Heathcoat

Adams on way back to Heathcoat

HEATHCOAT are bringing back Qaasim Adams for a third spell at Knightshayes as they prepare to return to the Premier Division.
South African Adams – who is 30 later this month – first appeared in the Devon League as a 19-year-old all-rounder with Plympton in 2003.
Heathcoat snapped Adams up in 2005, when he made 880 league runs and took 30 wickets in the B Division.
Adams was back again in 2009 with 361 runs and another 30 wickets to help Heathcoat into fourth place in the A Division.
Following his last season in this country, Adams finally made the breakthrough into full-time cricket in South Africa, initially with Western Province.
Adams is now an established member of the Northerns Provincial team and the Titans Super-Sport and T20 sides.
He is averaging more than 40 with the bat in First Class cricket and the early 30s in the 50-over format.
“Best of all for us Qaasim is a quality coach and we really need one as there are not too many of them around,” said skipper Sam Smith, who led the side to promotion as A Division champions last term.
Heathcoat have also signed Somerset all-rounder Lewis Gregory (below), although how much they see of him remains to be seen.
Gregory’s home club is Plympton, however he lives in Taunton now and wants to play league cricket closer to home.
“It will be great to have Lewis around if he does become available, but I hope and expect he will be in the Somerset 1^st XI this season,” said Smith.
Also new to the club is Ben Pitkin, a bowler who was with Taunton St Andrew last season.
Mitch Baker and Jean Rossouw, who were Heathcoat’s overseas players last season, won’t be returning. And neither will former Someset paceman Steffan Jones.
“Steffan has gone back to Bridgwater, which is a pity but not entirely unexpected as he has strong family ties there,” said Smith.
Heathcoat bounced straight back into the top flight having been relegated in 2012 when they just failed to dodge the relegation reaper.
They stayed up two seasons last time they were promoted and Smith intends to hang around a bit longer this time.
“Our aim was to consolidate in our first season, do well enough to attract a few players by appearing to be a viable option and going from there,” said Smith.
“We did the first bit, but instead of attracting player we lost Liam Lewis and Pete Randerson, who had been key to us.
“The following season we only started playing at our best in mid-July and very nearly did enough to stay up, but not quite.
“We are stringer now, I think, but the plan is the same. Consolidate then kick on next year.”
Heathcoat’s pre-season countdown starts on Saturday when they entertain Budleigh Salterton (1pm).

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