Devon Cricket Board - Bovey sign Zim U19 captain

Bovey sign Zim U19 captain

BOVEY Tracey have signaled their intentions for this season’s Premier Division campaign by signing Zimbabwe U19 captain Malcolm Lake.
Lake, who will be 20 in August, is a batting all-rounder who bowls some medium pace as well.
He was good enough to play for Zimbabwe U19s at 16, playing in two one-day internationals against South Africa.
Lake has played in two U19 World Cups – Australia (2012) and Abu Dhabi (2014) and the 2013 Quadrangular Tournament in India.
Bovey skipper Andy Fairbairn picked up Lake through Somerset batting coach Dave Gilbert’s connections and has been impressed by what he has seen of him so far.
“Malcolm has come over to work on his game in different conditions and was recommended to us,” said Fairbairn, who works for the Somerset Cricket Board.
“He has been in the country for a while and has been having regular sessions in the nets at Taunton, where he does not look out of place.”
Bovey have also signed South African opening bowler Nathan Roberts, who was recommended to them by Danny Childs, a fellow countryman who was with the club in 2011.
From closer to home Bovey have picked up Sam Hickinbottom, a bowling all-rounder who has moved from the Midlands to live in Newton Abbot.
Hickinbottom came up through the Leicestershire & Rutland CB youth system, before graduating to adult cricket with Cropston.
Last season he took 39 wickets at around 17 each in the Leicestershire Premier Division and chipped in with 231 runs at an average fractionally below 20.
Bovey have been title contenders for the past four seasons without actually winning the Premier Division. Amazingly, they have finished third every year since 2009!
Fairbairn is confident going into the new season, not just because of his signings but also because of the progress made by some existing players.
“Sam Wyatt-Haines has been working hard on the academy at Somerset with the coaches there and once he becomes available to us I think he could have an exciting season,” said Fairbairn.
“Matt Golding has been over in Australia all winter playing for Toongabbie - a team near Melbourne – and has a very successful time.
“The last time I looked at his stats he had scored two tons in A Grade cricket and was averaging nearly 50.
“If he is in that sort of form he is going to hit the ground running for us.”
Bovey Tracey’s pre-season preparations in the middle start on April 12 with a game against old Cockspur Cup rivals Bridgwater. The following day they entertain the University of Exeter.

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