HOLSWORTHY Cricket Club will have an overseas player after all this summer having signed West Indian fast bowling all-rounder Allain Ashby for their Cornwall Cricket League Division Two East campaign.

Ashby, who comes from St Lucia, had a brief stint at league rivals Lanhydrock at the back end of 2022, and took 49 wickets and scored 422 runs in all competitions last summer for Shireshead CC in Lancashire.

The Trees – who have enjoyed excellent success with South African Herschelle Poggenpoel and Australian Noah Pigdon over the last three summers – initially looked like they would go with what they’ve got due to a problem finding suitable accommodation.

However, that has changed, as skipper and club chairman Ryan Walter explains.

He said: “It looked as though getting an overseas in this year was dead in the water, but once accommodation became available which was the main sticking point before, we had a look into it again.

“It was a bit late in the day ideally, but we’ve gone for a seamer as opposed to a spinner this time. Allain will open the bowling and bat somewhere in the middle-order. He looks a really good fit for us as he’ll add something different to our already strong seam attack.

“What also stands out is his coaching which is always a big factor for us as he can help out with the juniors and ladies, and help us with our own coaching structure.”

Walter felt an overseas wasn’t a necessity, but admitted with the league getting stronger each year, it could be crucial.

He said: “We were already happy with what we’ve got, but lots of other teams in the league have one, and Allain should give us a boost in both departments, and will hopefully push us towards the top half which will be the aim.”

The club have also started indoor nets at Shebbear College on Thursday nights with both the men’s and ladies teams training, and the juniors beforehand, while a couple of pre-season friendlies have been sorted.

On Saturday, April 18 the seconds are due to host their Bideford, Littleham and Westward Ho! counterparts, while a week later the first team visit County Division One side Perranporth ahead of their opener with Bude on Saturday, May 2.

Elsewhere around the club, the ladies’ indoor team were in action on Sunday, writes Hannah Steadman.

Holsworthy Ladies travelled to Exeter to compete in their third and fourth games of the Devon Women’s Cricket League Indoor Cricket League where they were looking to build on their previous win against Exmouth.

Whimple’s strong bowling attack secured their victory in game one against Holsworthy as although some excellent bowling and fielding from the ladies got them back into it, the headstart Whimple gained in their fielding innings proved crucial.

In game two against Clyst St George, a notable batting performance from Andrea Phillips, which included three sixes in just one over, and continued use of the boundaries by the team secured Holsworthy a healthy net score of 79.

The chase went well into the last over, but Holsworthy’s recent good run came to an end as Clyst held their nerve.

However, in their first year in the indoor hardball league, the team’s success has been notable in all elements of the game as they aim to take throughout the summer.