OSWESTRY Cricket Club have hailed the arrival of new signing Joe Monk ahead of the new Mansfield Shropshire Premier League season.

The Morda Road club avoided relegation with a late reprieve and go into 2023 determined to avoid a repeat of the struggles which have beset them over the last few years.

The 28-year old Monk arrives at the club from first division side Newtown having begun his career at Welshpool and provides a boost to their bowling attack.

The right arm pace bowler is also a lower order batsman with more than 200 league games under his belt but has never faced Oswestry. Monk needs nine more wickets to reach 300 for his career.

Border Counties Advertizer: MIchael French has signed for Oswestry.

Michael French has signed for Oswestry.

Monk’s arrival represents the club’s second major signing of the pre-season having already snapped up Michael French.

The 20-year-old Australian will be joining the club as their overseas player for the 2023 season.

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French hails from Perth in Western Australia and is both a talented right arm leg-spin bowler, and an aggressive middle order right-handed batter.

He has played at various Australian State junior levels and has been selected for the Western Australian Under-19 squad under the Western Australian talent identification team.

Little has changed at Chirk with no arrivals or departures as captain Luke Gardner plots an assault for first division honours.

Frankton will also be aiming for a successful first division campaign having signed batsman and wicketkeeper Jamie Birch from local rivals Knockin and Kinnerley where he served as captain last year.

Birch said: "I can’t wait to call Frankton home. It’ll be a pleasure to play there with some great members while pushing myself and others to getting the results on the pitch."

Ellesmere are joined by Knockin and Kinnerley in the second division.

Knockin will be led by Rhys Williams following Birch's departure with Paul Holyoake leading the second string with Greg Stokes and Brian Morrow captaining the third and fourth teams respectively.

The only other departure is Martin Ellis who has joined local rivals Cae Glas.

A spokesman said: "The club had a dismal set of results last season which saw the second team relegated and the other two sides finish in the bottom half.

"We are hoping for better this term.

"Our youth set up will continue to grow and juniors coming through will get games in adult cricket.

"Everything going in the right direction off the pitch but we just need to win some games of cricket now."

Oswestry IIs will be competing in the third division this summer while Frankton IIs will be in fourth division action.

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