HALESOWEN CC's winter recruitment has seen the club boost its top order with the capture of two left-handed batsmen.

Hales have secured Jamie Harrison from Barnt Green and raided rivals Old Hill for youngster Harry Baddams.

Both Baddams and Harrison are left-handed top order batsman who have been recruited to ‘mix the game up’ according to captain Alexei Kervezee.

Delighted with his new recruits, the skipper said: "Over last season it became evident that in all 3 forms of Cricket we needed more variety in our options with the bat. With the loss of Kester Moseley (transferred to home town club Bath CC) and various uncertainties around the availability of other players due to family matters, we felt it was essential we recruited well to ensure we have strength in depth in the top six of the batting order and both Jamie and Harry fit the bill."

Harrison is an opening batsman who also plays minor counties cricket for Herefordshire and is a free scoring player who came through the Warwickshire age group system whilst plying his trade at club level with Walmley and latterly Barnt Green.

In the last seven seasons Harrison has amassed 6,800 runs with a top score of 120* and is still aged just 21.

He said: "I have played with and against Alexei for some years and I know he can bring the best out in me and having met with other members of the Cricket Management team at Halesowen I can see what a professional set up the club is."

Over a three year period the club has gone from the lower reaches of Division Two of the ECB Birmingham and District League to finishing fourth in Division One in 2018 thanks to the careful captaincy of Richard Brooker, who is now back as cricket manager, and Kervezee as well as some key changes in facilities, coaching and infrastructure instituted by head of senior cricket Richard Cox.

Meanwhile, 17-year-old Baddams is also one for the future having grown up near the club but played at Old Hill.

Currently in the Worcestershire CCC Development XI set-up, the left-hander can bat anywhere in the top five having scored 3,300 runs in the last seven seasons of club cricket.

An excited Baddams said: "I just want to kick on now and with the league structure changing the chance to play in the Birmingham League with a club on my doorstep was too good to miss.

"I will always be grateful for the opportunities that I was given at Old Hill from a young age and have really enjoyed the past few seasons there. Now feels like the right time for a new start with Halesowen and I’m prepared to really test myself with a new club and people. I can’t wait to get started."

Halesowen reported back for duty on February 3 at their indoor base in Hagley. They depart to the West Country for their pre-season training camp on April 13 and 14 before the season starts on April 20.