WERRINGTON have announced the signing of Australian pace bowler Tom Scoble ahead of next season’s ECB Cornwall Premier League campaign.

The 21-year-old left-armer replaces fellow countryman Jono Baldock, who has been the overseas at Ladycross for the last two summers.

Scoble, who plays First Grade for the University of New South Wales in the NSW Premier Cricket competition, the level below first-class standard, is the club’s second close season acquisition following the capture of Cornwall spinner Andy Libby, as skipper Paul Smith looks to build on their third-placed finish in 2019.

In all competitions so far this season Down Under, he’s picked up 23 wickets at an average of 19, including the wickets of former Australian Test cricketers Peter Nevill and Shane Watson.

Smith is excited to see what he can do against Cornwall cricket’s elite.

He said: “He is a young quick bowler from just outside of Sydney. He bowls fairly sharp left-arm seamers in Sydney Grade Cricket for the University of New South Wales, so he should be a great signing.

“He’s young, fit and keen, which is exactly what we’re looking for at Werrington, so he seemed to be a perfect fit for the role in our side.

“I’ll spend the next few months chatting with him and getting to know him as a person, and hopefully when he arrives he’ll love the club as much as everyone else does.

“It’s a very infectious atmosphere at Werrington. Once people join, very very rarely do you see them go, so I’m hoping we can help Tom feel the same way.”

Smith hopes that Scoble and Cornwall opening bowler Tom Dinnis will put fear into batting line-ups across the Duchy.

He said: “He is our second left-arm signing of the winter along with Andy Libby. So again, with the variation we now have, we’ve covered pretty much every angle, which is great.

“I am hoping Tom will either open or bowl first change and combine with Tom Dinnis to form a formidable partnership with the ball. I’ve always said early wickets are key at our level, and two seriously good strike bowlers with the new ball will be crucial throughout the season.

“He also opens the batting in T20 in Australia, so to know he can hold a bat — even if he is a whacker — is handy. I always say to the lads lower down the order that the number next to their name means nothing and that at some stage throughout the year you’ll be required to win us a game. So hopefully Tom will win us a few games with his hard-hitting down the order.”

Despite getting most of their transfer activity done before Christmas, Smith wants a few more to strengthen the seconds, who will hope to kick-on after last season’s superb fightback to avoid relegation from County Division One.

He said: “I’m always going to back us regardless of how many signings we make. Even if we had the same side as last year I’d back us. Our team spirit, heart and character is second to none.

“However with the two additions to the first team so far, I truly believe we have a team capable of challenging for the league.

“The emphasis now is to create a first team squad. I want people to perform in the seconds week in, week out and earn their place in the firsts. This will give us a strong squad of 13/14 for the weeks where people will inevitably be unavailable.

“There are a few local players that know we are interested in signing them. We want more competition for places to improve not just the first team, but all four teams within the club.

“I certainly hope we can announce a couple more signings in the new year.”