Nailsea Cricket Club has new teen signing

NAILSEA Cricket Club has signed young South African Matthew Benn to join the club for the 2010 season.

The 19-year-old has progressed through the ranks at The Old Edwardian Society Sport Club in South Africa, winning the player of the season award in 2007.

A competitive all-rounder, Benn boasts a highest score of 140 and best bowling figures of 7 for 12.

Nailsea head coach Terry Robinson said: "We are delighted that Matthew will be joining us for the 2010 season.

"He comes to us highly recommended and has a great attitude and enthusiasm which will hopefully have a really positive effect on the team."

Benn will be joining his new team-mates for pre-season training in April and said that he is looking forward to the opportunity of playing competitive cricket in the UK.

"My longtime coach and mentor, Jimmy Cook played for Somerset and organised for me to join Nailsea," he said.

"I am very excited – I have never played 'serious' cricket overseas before and I'm looking forward to all the possibilities that this opportunity will bring.

"I plan to score as many runs, take as many wickets and field as many balls as is physically possible.

"I also hope to play more cricket than ever before. I'm hoping that the team I play for can win the league.

"For myself, I am looking forward to being able to focus on cricket in every form and to getting as much out of this opportunity as I can.

"I am also looking forward to being part of another club and having many new experiences."

“I’d like to compare myself to the former Australian international cricketer Adam Gilchrist, not because of his ears, but because he is an aggressive left-handed batsman and record-breaking wicket-keeper, that I try to approach each innings with the same determination to score runs."

"I am a committed and very enthusiastic player in all aspects of the game who loves to do well for myself and the team.

“Everyone always knows when I am on the field, because I am the loudest, and I always encourage my team mates to do their best. I really enjoy fielding and will go after any ball.

Matthew as been to Britain often as a visitor and twice on cricket tour.

He said: “I have enjoyed it every single time. In terms of cricket, I’ve been twice, on tour, and also enjoyed every minute of that - and surprisingly it didn’t rain very much.

He says his cricketing hero is Cape Town all-rounder Jacques Kallis ‘because of the tremendous contribution he has made in batting and bowling, throughout his career’.

Nailsea Cricket Club spokesman Adam Blower said: “We would also like to thank everyone who has used their fundraising websites at www.buy.at/nailseacc and www.easyfundraising.org.uk/nailseacc and helped to raise £49.36 so far.

“The club hope that if people continue to use the these sites when they shop online, they could have a really positive effect on cricket in the area.

“The club have now also launched a fundraising search engine, which can be found at nailseacc/easysearch.org.uk.

“It's completely free to use and by making just 10 searches a day, you could help raise £20 a year for local cricket.”