Devon Cricket Board - Plymouth sign quality batters

Plymouth sign quality batters

PLYMOUTH have completed the signing of South African batsman Gionne Koopman and Aussie-born Scotsman Hamish Gardiner for the season ahead.
Koopman has been playing in all three forms of the game – 50-over, T20 and First Class – for Border during the domestic season at home.
An early order left-hander and off-spin bowler, 22-year-old Koopman started out as a 13 year old in the Border youth teams and worked his way through the system.
He made his First Class debut in 2010 and has a top score of 105. Marco Marias, the Lewdown batsman who made more than 1,350 runs in the B Division last summer, is a team-mate in the Border side.
Matt Hooper, the Plymouth captain, said he was looking forward to seeing the 22 year old in the middle.
I don't know much about him other than the stats I have seen,” said Hooper.
“He has been really positive in conversations so far.”
Gardiner, 23, was born in Brisbane to Scottish parents, but has lived in both countries and played for Scotland’s under-13 side.
He spent last season playing for Carlton in the Cricket Scotland League East Premier Division, where his form with the bat – he averaged more than 40 - earned a call-up to play for Scotland against Australia and Ireland.
Gardiner featured four times for Scotland in the CB 40 competition and had a trial for Surrey 2^nd XI.
Back home in Australia he had played for Ragglers in Sydney Grade cricket, South Brisbane and the University of Queensland.
Plymouth have already signed teenage seamer Hall Kerton from Plymstock and, at the other end of the age range, former captain Steve Luffman is back from Yelverton.
Luffman is eligible for Devon O50s this season and looks like being the oldest player in the Premier Division – if he is picked in the 1st XI.
Budleigh Salterton’s Neil Murrin held that honour last season, but the 54-year-old’s team was relegated at the end of it.
Until Luffman finds his way into the Plymouth 1st XI, the super-daddy of the Premier Division will be Cornwood’s Duncan Boase.
The former Devon wicketkeeper – who will be 47 when the season starts - ‘retired’ from 1st XI cricket in 2011, but has helped out when needed since.
Cornwood need Boase until further notice this season as regular keeper and 2013 player of the year Mark Horwell has counted himself out.
Mark has decided that, for the time being, he is going to give cricket a break to be able to spend more time with his young family,” said Cornwood’s chairman of selectors Nick Goodliffe.
“There is no defined timescale on this for now, but Mark will remain a Cornwood club member and we all hope moving forward, a balance can be established to enable Mark to resume his wicket-keeping-batsman duties.
“Until then, we have club stalwart Duncan Boase waiting in the wings to provide experienced cover.
“Duncan keeps himself very fit and is keen to step in for however long it takes.”

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