Import lifts Bulldogs’ attack

North County’s English recruit says he is eager to have an impact at his new club after arriving in Australia this week in readiness for the new season.

Left-arm quick Riecko Parker-Cole will make Albany home for the next six months and will be a vital inclusion for the Bulldogs, who struggled to find a strike bowler last season.

The 18-year-old from the Worcestershire County Cricket Club academy will spearhead the Bulldogs’ pace attack this Saturday against reigning premiers Railways in an intriguing round 1 clash in the Albany Cricket Association A-grade competition.

Having played in Worcestershire’s second XI in the English summer, Parker-Cole said he was convinced to come to Albany by former English county cricketer David Banks, who was the first English overseas player to play in the town more than three decades ago.

“I’m looking to develop my game and a change of scenery is good and playing in different conditions,” he said.

“I want to focus on my cricket.

“I’m really looking forward to it.”

Experienced batsman Neil Ferreira will again captain the Bulldogs, and said he looking forward to working with Parker-Cole to help build the club back up the table.

“It will be nice to have someone with that good control with the ball, and from what I’ve heard, he is coming off a reasonable season and I’ve heard some good things about him,” Ferreira said.

“Last season was a season of development but we are looking to up the ante and progress on getting better results.

“We are keen to keep developing, but we need to be a bit ruthless.

“I’m hoping all our players can commit more as last season we had large numbers playing but not enough regularly.”

Young tall seamers James Plowman and Boston Cavanagh are expected to develop further, with the latter set to miss the start of the season because of a broken leg.

The Bulldogs struggled to make regular inroads with the ball last season, with left-arm spinner Paul Osborne their leading wicket-taker with only 13 wickets.

The Bulldogs will also be boosted for their opening round clash, with young all-rounder Michael Ferreira returning after making his 1st grade debut for Midland Guildford in the WACA Premier Cricket competition.

Ferreira knocked over Western Warriors batsman Josh Philippe, who was playing for club side Scarborough, before removing the competition’s leading run scorer last season Nick Maiolo for a duck in his five-over spell of medium pacers.

Captain Ferreira said leg-spinner Patrick Butler would also be a surprise inclusion, giving the Bulldogs a dangerous attack against the Tigers for the opening round.