Torquay CC

By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

TORQUAY look like they want to make their latest stay in the Tolchards Devon League A Division as brief as possible if two new signings are anything to go by.

The Rec Grounders, who were relegated straight back to the A Division last August, have recruited two international players for the 2020 season. They are Sajedul Islam and Daniel Doram.

Sajedul Islam - international honours for BangladeshSajedul (32) is a pace-bowling all-rounder who has played Test and T20 cricket for Bangladesh on top of playing around 100 first class matches. His Test career started well taking a wicket in only his second delivery against New Zealand in Dunedin.

Since his First Class debut in 2005, the left-arm swing bowler has taken more than 300 First Class wickets and scored in excess of 2,000 runs from the middle-lower order.

Torquay’s second signing is 22-year-old Doram, a European Union passport holder who was born in the Dutch West Indies and has represented the Netherlands.

Doram, who is 6ft 7ins tall, is from Sint Maartin, an island nation in the southern Caribbean that is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Doram bats left-handed and bowls left-arm spin. A five-wicket haul for the Netherlands against Ireland on his international debut aroused the interest of Sussex CCC, who invited him to join their Academy and study at Hurstpierpoint College.

Playing for Sussex 2nd XI in the ECB T20 competition, Doram performed the hat-trick in a game against Somerset.

For the past two seasons Doram has played for Crook Town in the Durham League, scoring 1,700 runs and taking 101 wickets.

Tim Western, the director of cricket at the Recreation Ground, said signing two international players should send the right sort of signal to other prospective recruits.

“We are in discussions with a number of players about joining Torquay and the opportunity to play with two international cricketers is definitely a draw,” said Western.

Daniel Doram - performed the hat-trick for Sussex 2nd XIIn the wake of last season’s disappointing Premier campaign which featured just three wins in 18 stars, Western and the club management had a long, hard look at what they did and did not do.

Western said the overseas signings have been picked specifically for the qualities they bring to the 1st XI and the club’s overall coaching strategy. 

“Sajedul is the signing we were looking for this season as an experienced, bowling all-rounder who has played international cricket,” said Western.

“Daniel still has strong ambitions to play cricket professionally and we are confident that our coaching team can aid his development.

“Sajedul and Daniel will play a big role on and off the field where they will support both the junior and senior sides of the club. Their coaching and mentoring credentials will be invaluable to help the whole club, young and old.”

 

Torquay’s new captain for the 2020 season will be all-rounder Chris Kelmere, whose appointment was confirmed at the club’s annual meeting last Friday night.

Kelmere replaces George Allen, who switched to Paignton at the end of last season as he wants to continue playing Premier cricket.

Kelmere skippered Paignton for part of the 2016 season.