Kellett’s move to Cambridge stuns Widnes

Apr 2 2008 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

WIDNES have been stung by the decision of key close-season signing, former Yorkshire opening batsman Simon Kellett, to take the post of player-coach to Minor Counties Cambridgeshire and play his league cricket in Cambridge.

Bidding to retain their place in the Cheshire County League ECB Premiership, the Beaconsfield Road club have replaced Kellett with Hyde’s experienced Rudra Singh. An all-rounder who has played senior league cricket in Lancashire, Singh is a full-time ECB coach based at Old Trafford.

Widnes’s overseas player will be Australian Daniel Pascoe, 24, a highly-rated left-arm spin bowler who has played for ACT Comets in Canberra.

Also in the Premier League Neston welcome back Australian batsman Jack Smith after a spell at Parkgate. Upton’s outstand-ing 22-year-old all-rounder Lee Dixon has also joined.

Upton’s new captain Gary Dixon has arranged for another Australian, all-rounder Adam Watson from Melbourne to join the Old Greasby Road club, while Irby who are celebrating their 60th anniversary bring in Nathan Woods, a batsman with a high reputation in Adelaide grade cricket.

The new season begins on Saturday, April 19.

The County League are mourning the death of well-known life vice-president John North, 75, who founded their over-40s section in 1983 and managed under-18s teams to 14 North-West Colts Trophy victories between 1978-2000.