Devon Cricket Board - Heathcoat brining WP batsman in for 2015

Heathcoat brining WP batsman in for 2015

HEATHCOAT have used their strong South African connections to sign Western Province batsman Bradley Barnes for the season ahead.
Barnes, who is 26, will replace Qassim Adams, who was Heathcoat’s overseas player last season.
He averages nearly 30 in First Class cricket – three tons, 16 half-centuries – and the early 20s in 50-over cricket.
“At home he keeps wicket, but he has told us he would rather not keep while he is over here,” said former 1^st XI skipper Darron Drew, who is in charge of player recruitment.
“I believe he bowls a bit of off-spin and I am sure we will get to see him turn his arm over during the season.”
Barnes will be working nearby at Blundell’s School as a cricket coach – he holds a level two qualification – and will help at Heathcoat’s Friday night training sessions.
Barnes has a tough act following Adams, whose third season with Heathcoat was an eventful one.
Adams became the first batsman in Premier Division history to score four centuries in an 18-game season.
He scored 653 runs at an average of nearly 60 and of his four tons he got three on successive Saturdays against Exeter, Cornwood and Plymouth.
Adams took his form back to South Africa at the end of the Devon League season, making runs for Northerns and Titans in the Sunfoil Series.
Barnes hasn’t played in this country before, but brother Darryl has. He was Heathcoat’s overseas player in 2006 – topping the 600 run mark – and added another 500-plus for Hatherleigh in 2007.
Barnes isn’t the only new face at Knightshayes for 2015 as Heathcoat have been busy on the signing front.
Jack Dart, an early order batsman and change bowler, has switched from Budleigh Salterton in search of Premier cricket.
Dart (pictured) has featured regularly for Devon Lions over the past few seasons and benefited from spending the 2013-14 winter in Australia during a gap year.
As a former Blundell’s scholar he will know several members of the Heathcoat dressing room already, including Matt Hague who was a contemporary, Sam Smith, the Menheneott brothers and Dylan Penberthy..
“I want to play Premier cricket,” said Dart. “I don’t play as much as I did when I was younger, so it is important I play at a high standard.”
Dart is studying at university in Birmingham – where he is concentrating on rugby rather than cricket – but expects to play the majority of games next season.
“I should be available all season, but might miss one or two games during the exam period,” said Dart.
Sam Weddell, an all-rounder studying at the University of Exeter, has signed up for 2015 and has told skipper Sam Smith he is available all season.
Weddell has played Premier cricket before in Sussex for East Grinstead.
Heathcoat comfortably survived their first season back in Premier cricket last year, finishing seventh in the final table.
Drew said what held them back at times was a lack of experience, which is why they have gone for an older overseas player.
“I think we confounded a few people last year, who thought we would go straight back down,” said Drew.
“Although we finished seventh, we were only a couple of wins away from finishing fourth. But with a young side we lacked the necessary experience at times.
“With Bradley over for the summer, not just to play but coach as well, we would hope to finish higher up the table.’

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