Modda signs import

MODEWARRE has wasted no time in building its list for next summer, signing English import Jake Hooson for the 2018-19 season.

The Walsden left-hand opening batsman has enjoyed both team and individual success over the past five years, with his first XI side winning Central Lancashire League premierships in 2012 and 2013, before back-to-back Pennine Cricket League flags in 2016 and 2017 among a number of cups. The 24-year-old belted 730 runs from 21 knocks last English summer, including scores of 121 not out and 112. Five times he surpassed 50, converting three of those knocks into centuries.

He also hit a career-high 141 not out in 2016 and shapes as a major player in next summer’s competition.

“We’ve been keeping an eye on his performances, not that it’s going to matter,” Warriors president Peter Edwards said.

“For us, it’s as much about giving a young bloke an opportunity to come and explore what life is like in Australia anyway. Some of the side benefits of that is he might make some runs for us.

“We actively went seeking (a top-order batsman) and went through an agency and he got recommended to us.

“I spoke to him face-to-face on Skype and he seems like a ripping young fella. We’re looking forward to meeting him in the flesh.”

But the Warriors look set to remain in Division 3 next summer, under the belief they’ve fallen narrowly short of Thomson in the championship points and club assessment race.

“We don’t know a final outcome yet but it looks ominous for us,” Edwards said.

“We’ll naturally apply for Division 2 and see what they say, but one win in the firsts or seconds is all it really was.

“We essentially got a full range of points off-field, so there’s nothing we could have done off-field.”