Spin ace signs on for St Georges

St Georges will welcome back their record-breaking Indian leg-spinner Hitshu Bachani as they prepare for life in Birmingham League division two.

The 25-year-old took 87 wickets at an average of 8.2 last season as the Dragons romped to title glory in division three. And Bachani has resisted overtures from a string of other clubs to return to Church Road for another season.

“Hitshu is signed up and will be back for the first game of the league season,” said captain Matt Tilt.

“We said at the time that we wanted him to come over for longer than just one year and we are pleased because I think there were quite a few approaches from other clubs.”

St Georges have signed young left-arm seamer Ben Miller - his brother Chris made the same move last season - and have signed two players from the Wrexham area.

Opening batsman Lee Griffiths, 27, will be based at RAF Cosford, while his brother - 21-year-old Jamie - will also be part of Tilt’s squad this season. The only departure is Iain Mills, who has returned to Shifnal.

Meanwhile, hopes of Shropshire’s leading Birmingham League clubs receiving an allocated contracted player from either Warwickshire or Worcestershire have been dashed.

The two First Class counties have allocated players to premier league and division one outfits, but Shifnal, Wellington, Cannock and Shrewsbury have all missed out.

“It’s disappointing,” said Shifnal manager Chris Cadman. “The Birmingham League have done their bit to change the rules to try and get the players spread out more evenly but it doesn’t seem to have happened that way.

“We will be the only premier division club without a contracted player. But, having said, Walsall have won the league for the last two years without one and Wellington also won it twice without a contracted player.”