Brendan Wood has flown in from Australia to join Cumberworth in the Drakes Huddersfield Cricket League.

The arrival of the 21-year-old left-arm opening bowler to the Cedar Court Conference club means only a handful of league clubs are now without an overseas signing.

Wood came through at Cranbourne CC and played first grade for them, before moving to Dandenong CC in the Victoria Premier League, where he took 26 wickets in second grade last season.

“Coming to England is something I’ve wanted to do for a while, but the chance to come to Cumberworth was a last-minute thing,” said Wood, a personal trainer by trade.

“Brendan McArdle gave me a call about the club and suggested it was a good chance for me, so I’m happy to be here.”

Wood met his new club colleagues just 48 hours before taking the field with them in the home clash with Almondbury.

“I had a decent season back home in Melbourne, so I’m hoping to build on that,” added Wood.

“I don’t really know anything about the Drakes League, but I’m looking forward to playing big time.”

Wood comes recommended by former Middlesex and Nottinghamshire wicketkeeper DAvid Alleyne.

It’s a Kiwi, however, who currently leads the early runs chart in League and All Rounder Sykes Cup competition.

That’s Henry Cooper of Broad Oak, who has 298 runs to his credit going into the Premiership clash with Honley, who have Timmy Taylor next in the list of runscorers on 269.

Sam Evans, the Australian who is EU qualified and playing for Kirkburton, is third on 243 while four other first-team batsmen are over 200 runs already – Zarak Khan of Skelmanthorpe (221), Tim Orrell of Mirfield Parish (219), Aussie Daniel Anderson of Shepley (213) and Amar Rashid of Skelmanthorpe (208).

When it comes to wicket-taking, Shepley’s Nasir Jamal is tops with 16 wickets to his name, a tally he’ll be looking to add to at Elland.

Iain Wardlaw and Amar Rashid, of Hoylandswaine and Shepley respectively, have 14 apiece while the League’s top all-rounder, Tom Brook of Scholes, is just one behind on 13.

Scholes, who are in Heavy Woollen Cup action at Whitley Hall on Sunday, have signed batsman Ben Birkhead from Elland.

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