Lancashire League Handbook 2016

91 EAST LANCASHIRE - Andries Gous (South Africa) East Lancashire have signed Andries Gustav Stephanus Gous as professional for the 2016 season. The 22 year old, right handed, wicket-keeper batsman joins the Alexandra Meadows side from Free State and follows the recent trend (Erasmus, Kleinveldt, de Villiers) of South African professionals at the club. AGS Gous made his first class debut for Free State in 2012, aged just 19, playing alongside former Colne professional Shadley van Schalkwyk. Since then, he has played in Class A cricket and is the opening batsmen for the Twenty20 side. At time of writing AGS Gous has a First-Class Average of 30.93 with a highest score of 95. In the shorter, 20 over format, his highest score is 78* with an impressive strike rate of 149.75. It must also be noted Gous has over 50 career catches. His glove work and presence behind the stumps should be exciting to watch all summer. Andries is a newcomer to English league cricket, but his enthusiasm and desire to succeed is already evident! It is hoped that such a young professional will compliment the more youthful approach the club is taking at the moment. We wish him all the best for this season. ENFIELD - Jean Symes (South Africa) Jean Symes continues Enfield’s fine tradition of employing highly rated South African professionals. The 29 year old LH bat, slow LH orthodox bowler, hails from Jo’burg and plays his trade for Guateng & Highveld Lions. Jean has also represented Scotland and been the paid man more locally at Norden. He has over 3,000 first-class runs and 60 first-class wickets to his name and celebrated his recent return to the Guateng side with consecutive centuries. Jean will arrive carrying a formidable reputation in both formats of the shorter game and with his undoubted ability is expected to help Enfield challenge for silverware on all fronts in 2016. HASLINGDEN - Babar Naeem (Pakistan) Babar is an extremely experienced aggressive left handed batsmen and slow left arm bowler. He has played well in excess of 250 First Class/List A matches in his native Pakistan, scoring over 11,000 runs at an average just shy of 30, and taking 228 wickets at an average in the mid 30s. He is also very experienced in English conditions having already had spells as professional at Horwich, Milnrow, Baxenden and Edenfield locally. Although this is his first season as a full professional in the Lancashire League, the 33 year old is no stranger to it having played as a sub professional for a number of clubs previously including Haslingden. He will provide more valuable experience to what is still a young and developing side, and everyone at HCC wishes him all the best for the 2017 campaign.