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Zimbabwean Test star Travis Friend has signed for Castletown and will play in the 2009 Standard Bank Premiership.

Friend's last international action with Zimbabwe was almost five years ago.

The 28-year-old all-rounder played 13 Tests and 51 one-day internationals for Zimbabwe, claiming 62 wickets and a batting average of just under 30.

Friend made his Zimbabwean debut at just 19 and is described as a bowler of genuine pace.

Friend's career highlights include hitting 63 against India and 82 versus South Africa.

After leaving Zimbabwe, Friend played a season with Derbyshire and is now working as a pilot.

His arrival could be a major step in Castletown reclaiming the Premiership title from Ramsey.

In 2009 he signed up for the summer with Castletown Cricket Club in the Isle of Man --- the first time any of the island's teams could boast a former Test player.

'The next two years could be very exciting for Manx cricket'

Published Date:
25 April 2009
By ANDY DALRYMPLE

GARETH Dawson was appointed the Isle of Man's cricket development officer just under 12 months ago, since when the Yorkshireman has been plotting a cricketing revolution on the Island that could ultimately see the Manx competing with the sport's best.
The former Yorkshire under-15 coach has plans, big plans that he hopes will see the sport blossom locally and internationally.

'If we work hard and those within the sport back themselves then you never know what we could achieve. These next two years could be very exciting for Manx cricket.'

>> Keep up to date with all things Manx cricket at iomtoday.co.im/cricket

To help the Manx cricket fraternity achieve their growing aspirations, Dawson has been carefully honing elements of the Manx grassroots game's make-up. Coaching, club structures and facilities are all on the CDO's hit list.

'Some of the structures definitely need changing. Junior cricket needs progressing, while the way some of the club players go about the game needs looking at.

'One of the big problems I feel we have is the Island's practice facilities, which are not the best.

'All of the above are interlinked. If you've got players that can't practise they're never going to get better, but equally if you've great facilities you've got to have the coaches who can make the most of them.

'As a result I'm holding more level one and two coaching courses in the Island and I'm looking at ways at which we can fund more practice facilities.'

Since the interview funds have been sourced and new developments have been planned at Ramsey, Cronkbourne, Crosby, Peel and St John's.

'Hopefully all this will improve the standard of cricket on the Island and in turn at national level.'

This summer is undoubtedly a big year for the Island's men in white with the senior side playing in the European Cricket Council's Division Three Championships in August in Spain.

The seniors will be joined in off-Island action by the under-19s who are heading Belgium and the u15s who are off to Bologna in Italy as the Manx aim to make a mark on European cricket.

'I'm working with the seniors on a regular basis and I'm hopeful that as a result of the championships in Spain we can get promotion to Division Two this season via an end-of-season play-off with Croatia.

'If we get promoted we'll be playing a higher standard of opposition like Jersey and Guernsey.'

The Channel Islands' example is something Dawson is keen for the Island to follow:

'Jersey played World Cricket Division Five at the end of last season with the likes of the USA and Afghanistan.'

The latter have enjoyed a meteoric rise through the rankings and are now trying to qualify for a place in the 2011 Cricket World Cup.

'Scotland and Ireland had to start somewhere, Jersey and Guernsey seem to be following suit so there's no reason why the Isle of Man can't be put on the map in cricketing terms.'

Dawson is hopeful any success by the Island's national side will act as a catalyst for the domestic Manx game.

'Cricket is one of the very few sports on the Island that can offer international competition at both junior and senior level. People should want to aspire to play for their country.'

Raising the game's profile is one of Dawson's other main priorities and he's already moved to get the sport back in the popular Manx Youth Games.

St John's youngster Dan Hawke recently had a successful trial at Lancashire, an experience the Island coach hopes will be the first of many for the Island's talented juniors.

'The Island needs a role model —- whether it be Dan or one of the senior side's other players.'

It could even come in the form of former Zimbabwean test star Travis Friend who has joined up with Castletown ahead of the new season.

'Castletown's signing of Travis is fantastic for cricket on the Island. It will raise not only Town's players' game, but hopefully that of his opponents. It's going to be a great boost for the junior players he plays with.'

Although the former Derbyshire man is ineligible for Dawson's national side the CDO is hopeful that he'll share his experiences with the national outfit.

'His experience would be fantastic to use with the squad.'

The new season will mark a very busy period for the Yorkshireman as he looks to continue his fine-tuning of the Manx game.

'It has been a culture shock for quite a few sides. It's not going to be a quick fix, but in order for the sport to improve they have to put these simple structures in place.

'There's potential there, but it's down to everyone involved with cricket to put in the hard work otherwise they won't reap the benefits further down the track.

'I want things to progress at a rapid level and I feel we're moving in the right direction.'

Hopefully come September the sport will be celebrating the first of many successes to come.

The full article contains 870 words and appears in n/a newspaper.Page 1 of 1

Last Updated: 26 April 2009 9:17 AM
Source: n/a
Location: Isle of Man