LEIGH SIGN NEW LANCS PACEMAN GEORGE EDWARDS

Date: 3rd March 2015

A Paul Edwards copyright exclusive for L&DCC Official Website.

Mullaney staying close to his county club

Batsmen in the top division of the Med Imaging Liverpool Competition may be checking on the efficacy of their protective equipment this spring following the news that Leigh have signed Lancashire fast bowler George Edwards to replace Steven Mullaney, who will be playing his club cricket for Radcliffe on Trent in the Nottinghamshire Premier League.

Edwards, a 22-year-old 6ft 6ins quick bowler only agreed to join the Old Trafford club from Surrey last autumn and Beech Walk officials moved quickly to recruit him when they finally heard that Mullaney would be remaining in Nottinghamshire following his signing of a long-term contract at Trent Bridge.

The news that Mullaney would be staying close to where he plays the professional game may not astound cricket followers in the region; the addition of Edwards to Mattie McKiernan’s squad may cause a few eyebrows to be raised at the end of a winter which has not been short of high-profile signings.

“I am delighted that George will be joining us,” said McKiernan. “I have worked with him previously and his pace, bounce and accuracy will be a great asset for us, both with the new ball and at the death. His aggressive style of batting will complement that of the younger guys in the middle order and his experience will assist us in the various situations we will face.

“It’s great to welcome another county cricketer to the club and it will be good for our young squad to pick the brains of George in the same way as they have with Steven Mullaney and will continue to do with Karl Brown.

However, combined with the pleasure that came with the signing of Edwards, McKiernan was very understandably keen to pay tribute to Mullaney, who remains one of the most underestimated cricketers on the county circuit. Although he had often been playing important games for Nottinghamshire, the all-rounder took every opportunity to get home at the weekend and play club cricket with his mates. When he did so, he never failed to give of his best and he frequently represented the very best that the English professional game has to offer.

McKiernan said: Steve’s been a wonderful servant of the club as both a junior and senior. I’d like to thank him personally and on behalf of Leigh CC for what he’s done for us during the time he has been here. He’s scored nearly 5000 runs at an average of 44 and taken 131 wickets at around 15.5 runs apiece. We wish him well at his new club and we hope he achieves continued success at Nottinghamshire.