Cricket
NYSD champions Barnard Castle CC have signed a new professional for the 2019 season.
Former Yorkshire fast bowler James Wainman has agreed to join the club after he finishes the present season in Australia.
Michael Stanwix, Barney’s director of cricket, who spotted Wainman’s sudden availability on social media, said: “This is a very exciting signing for us.
“James has a wonderful pedigree as a left arm fast bowler and rapidly improving bastman.
“I’m full of anticipation about the new ball attack he will form with Josh Bousfield and he’ll make all our bowlers a little better.”
Barney have spent months searching for the right man after deciding not to renew Alasdair Appleby’s contract following their second title-winning season.
Discussions have been held with several players but the fit was never quite right.
Last week, Wainman, 26, revealed on Twitter that he was looking for a new club in England after four years with Farsley in the Bradford Premier League.
Four days later he was a Barney player after several telephone conversations confirmed that club and player were a good match.
Stephen Brenkley, club president, said: “This is terrific news for us and I hope our supporters, who I know have been waiting for something to happen, are as a pleased as we are by this.
“The most astonishing thing about it is possibly the way it was happened – frankly I didn’t even know Michael had a Twitter account.”
Wainman played for Yorksire age group sides from under 14s and went through their Academy.
He played three one-day matches and two T20 games for the county and nearly 50 times in the second XI championship.
After being released by the county last season he has been playing for Bayswater-Morley in Western Australia this winter.
Mr Stanwix said: “We were determined that our superb young team should have a home professional they deserved, to try to help them achieve all they are capable of. I think we have landed such a player in James.”
Wainman will return from Australia next month. He will join Barney’s overseas professional Hashan Dunmindu, who has been resigned for this summer and is expected to arrive from Sri Lanka in early April.
