Higgins brothers at Potterne CC

[CrimsonAvenger]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/wiltshire/h ... 299307.stm

An amateur village cricket club that signed up two top class Zimbabwean players is to be featured on Radio 4.

Potterne CC, on the outskirts of Devizes, has been benefiting from overseas players for the last three years.

It's a cricketing tradition that's been going on in some clubs for the best part of a century.

"This kind of thing is fairly common in the division we're in," said Graham Gaiger, captain of the 1st XI.

"And the system works for us - we've moved up fairly quickly and we're glad we've got them."

The two Zimbabwean players using Potterne as part of their route to international cricket are brothers Dylan and Ryan Higgins.

Dylan, the Zimbabwean under 19 captain, arrived in Potterne in early March fresh from Zimbabwe's international cricket ground at the Harare Sports Club.

It's a ground overlooked by the presidential palace with a crowd capacity of 10,000. Potterne has a capacity of just 100.

"I'm not sure what I was expecting," said Dylan.

"It was my first time in the UK and my image was actually much worse - that the weather was terrible all the time and it's actually been quite good.

"But the standard of cricket is a bit lower then I thought but I've finished school now, I'm on a gap year and I just wanted to come over here and play some cricket."

With six junior and four adult teams taking advantage of the overseas players, the Potterne Club is now "punching above its weight" on the cricket field.

"How do other teams react? There's no secrets," explained the club's captain Graham Gaiger.

"Some club's pay players to come down from London - we don't do that.

"And Ryan and Dylan contribute beyond playing well - Ryan coaches the girls teams and now we've suddenly got a lot more girls playing cricket then we used to have."

Ian Wheeler, chairman of the club for the last eight years, agrees.

"We were sceptical at first about what it would involve for us and if it would stir up resentment with the local players," he said.

"But there's a great Kudos of having an international player, coaching and we've been pleased with how things have turned out."

And Potterne Cricket Club's international player exchange is the subject of a Radio 4 documentary.

Presented by Chris Ledgard, 'Australian Wanted In Woodhall Spa' will be on Radio 4 on Wednesday, 22 December at 11:00.

[Tinashce Ruswa]

its a village team, Dunno what that will do Higzy good reckon he can play better league...anyhow Kudos to them

[eugene]

Why would they want to playing for Pothead CC or whatever the club is called? They should be playing for the mighty Tuskers.

[sloandog]

Ryan Higgins would be a very good addition to the ODI side.
I've seen him bowl he's a good legspinner

[zimfan1]

Listen to the Interview at this link

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00wsqv9

From listening to it Dylan seems to still want to play cricket for Zimbabwe and he is over in England on a gap year after finishing school

[ZIMDOGGY]

Why would they want to playing for Pothead CC or whatever the club is called? They should be playing for the mighty Tuskers.

lol

bet they have a few west indians in their squad

[andybligz]

get them both back playng first class cricket ! they both are very talented youngsters who could be playing for zim with the right attitude and enough gametime in the future