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Cricket: Pudsey Congs hand gloves to young gun Barney Gibson
Pudsey Congs have confirmed that record-breaking teenager Barney Gibson will keep wicket for the first team in the new season.
The 15-year-old schoolboy, who became the youngest player in English first-class cricket when he played for Yorkshire against Durham University last April, will be handed the gloves on a regular basis in the Bradford League.
Club chairman Ralph Middlebrook, who has revealed that the club’s overseas man for 2012 will be pace bowler Muhammad Naveed for the third year running – visa requirements permitting – said: “Barney will keep wicket for us regularly this year. He’s currently in India with England’s Under-16 and Under-17 development programme squad and with him being wicketkeeper for us on a regular basis, it means it’s no longer possible to accommodate Mark Gill, which is very sad.
“Mark has been a good cricketer – and still is – and a good servant to Pudsey Congs and we’ll miss him greatly. But he wanted to keep wicket when he could play and we couldn’t guarantee him that, unfortunately.”
Reinforced
Meanwhile, Congs, who disappointingly finished in fourth spot in Division One last year after winning the title in 2010, have reinforced their squad for next season and have signed Basil Akram from Northamptonshire Academy, a right-arm quick bowler/all-rounder.
The paceman also played with Loughborough University last season.
Middlebrook added: “We saw Basil play once last year and were impressed by what we saw. We’ve got another lined up – although he hasn’t signed yet. On the outgoing front, Adam Patel and Mark Gill have left.”
League champions Woodlands will learn who they will meet in the Black Sheep Yorkshire Champions Trophy when the draw for this season’s competition is made at Hanging Heaton on Sunday, February 19.
Woodlands are among the four teams in this season’s line up who have won the coveted trophy previously having triumphed in 2006 and 2007.
Wrenthorpe, York, Thackley and holders Whitley Hall are also in this season’s line-up.
Meanwhile, Woodlands and fellow new entrants Woodlands and Undercliffe will meet in the first round of this year’s Dyson Insulations Twenty/20 Cup.
It is one of three all Division One ties with Farsley at home to East Bierley and Pudsey Congs hosting Hanging Heaton at the Britannia Ground, being the others.
Pudsey St Lawrence, winners in 2009 and 2010 face a visit to Division Two side Morley.
The remaining two ties are clashes between Division Two outfits. Yeadon play hosts to Baildon while Bankfoot have home advantage against Gomersal.
Holders Bradford & Bingley and Hartshead Moor were the two sides to receive byes.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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