ENFIELD Cricket Club are hoping Dave Nosworthy's tip proves to be another big hit.

The South African coach has recommended Brandon Hiini to the Dill Hall Laners and they have snapped the 25-year-old up as their new professional for this Lancashire League season.

Nosworthy, in the past, has coached former Enfield professional Martin van Jaarsveld, who has gone on to play at Kent, helped Jacques Rudolph - who is now a regular in the South Africa side - and also coached last season's paid man Alviro Petersen.

New Zealander Hiini came to Canterbury coach Nosworthy's attention when he was chatting to him during a coaching dinner.

Hiini coached part-time at the Kiwi club and Nosworthy decided to give the bowler a chance and since then he has had a rapid rise up the cricket ladder - making a dream start by taking five wickets and scoring a century in his first two First Class matches.

He has gone on to be a regular in the Canterbury side - averaging 63 in his first ten First Class innings and taking more than 20 wickets.

Hiini has been to England before - playing in the Surrey League with Ashtead and Albury, where he was the league's second top wicket taker and third highest run scorer.

His main job is bowling - he is predominantly an outswinger - but Enfield are hoping he can also star with the bat.

Captain David Bracewell has high hopes for the new season.

"Everyone is really excited at the club as it is something different.

"When I first started out we had New Zealander Gavin Larsen at the club but since then it has tended to be West Indian and South African professionals so it is another culture to get used to and he is a young lad who hopefully will bring more life into the club.

"We had Alviro for three seasons and last season, he missed a large chunk of it and it was a shame as all the amateurs pulled their weight and did well. So we hoping Brandon brings a fighting spirit and gets everyone going again.

"We have had a battling professional for the last six years so we decided to go back to a bowling pro who should, barring injury, be able to stay for the full season.

"Brandon has only played state cricket for two seasons so he will have something to prove here as well so everyone is just really looking forward to it."

Hiini replaces Petersen who had an interrupted summer last season when he was called up to the South African squad midway through the season and left early, leaving Enfield dependent on sub professionals.

They ended up finishing fifth after being up challenging for the title half way through the season.

Meanwhile Bracewell is hoping that the older side of the Enfield team - in prolific bowler Bernard Reidy, Neil Holmes and Andy Barker - will all play another summer

"Bernard is still undecided but he was brilliant for us last season and hopefully, with a bowling pro, it will take some of the pressure off him and he will play again.

"He is in his 50s but if he plays it will be a massive bonus for us. He may have complained about stiffness last season following his marathon bowling sessions but he was fantastic, he could also get runs lower down the order and he made some catches that probably only Alviro could have made.

"And if Holmesy stays, along with Andy and Mas Ahmed, I think we will have a strong squad and maybe we can push for some silverware. It could be their last seasons and we want to give it a real go."

With Accrington welcoming back Nishit Shetty and Church more than happy with Ruven Peiris, only Rishton, of the Hyndburn teams, are now on a paid man hunt.

  • FORMER Church professional Greg Mail has signed for Colne.
  • ENFIELD'S AGM will be held next Thursday (8 February) at the club starting at 8pm.