Joe Carter is back at Scholes for the 2015 Drakes Premiership season.

The Northern Districts first-class batsman – who won the Drakes batting prize with 1,222 runs at 55.55 in 2013 – will spearhead the club’s hunt for a first title since 2009.

Also back at Chapelgate for a second season is left-handed opener Pete Drysdale, a colleague of Carter’s at Bay of Plenty and who delivered 788 runs for Scholes last season and finished fifth in the top-flight averages with 49.25.

“We are delighted to have Joe and Pete back at Chapelgate, not only for their ability at the top of the order but also because they are good club men,” said Scholes secretary John Andrews, who also revealed former Joe Lumb batsman Tommy Boorman is returning to the club after two years playing in Australia and New Zealand.

“Pete did the business when conditions were difficult for batsmen last season, while Joe now has excellent experience at top level with Northern Districts which we believe will come to the fore this summer.

“He’s technically a terrific batsman and, with that ability to go up a gear as well, we are very much looking forward to seeing him back in Scholes colours.”

English-born Carter proved a big hit in all formats the last time he was here and has had four years of prolific run-scoring at all levels.

After his family emigrated to New Zealand when he was 11, Carter came through the ranks under former Lascelles Hall ace James Pamment at Bay of Plenty and cemented a contract with Northern Districts, known as the Knights, last year.

Carter joined Scholes in 2013 after representing New Zealand Under 19s in 2011-12 and Bay of Plenty, for whom he scored 187 against Hamilton in their fourth successive Hawke Cup win the previous season (the top individual performance by a batsman in the 81-year history of Bay of Plenty’s senior men’s team).

He bagged 1,900 runs through that winter including four centuries, being top-scorer for Tuaranga in the Attrill Cup, for Northern Districts A, Otumoetai Cadets and for Bay of Plenty, where he racked up 778 runs at an average of 51.

In the Drakes Premiership, Carter took time to get used to conditions but finished the season with seven successive half-centuries and three concluding centuries.

The scores were 57 v Shelley, 52 v Kirkburton, 53 v Barkisland, 78 v Hoylandswaine, 101 not out v Skelmanthorpe, 104 v Shepley, who were champions, and 152 not out on the last day of the season against Hall Bower.

In addition, he proved a spectacular hitter in the T20 Trophy, with two blistering big centuries.

Pamment has now selected Carter in 12 first-class matches in the Plunket Shield – the Kiwi equivalent of the County Championship – and he is a current colleague of former Holmfirth all-rounder Mitch Santner.