Sawston & Babraham captain Dan Heath delighted with Jack Beaumont signing from Copdock & Old Ipswichian

Sawston & Babraham captain Dan Heath admitted that Jack Beaumont is someone who they have ‘wanted to bring in for a couple of years’ after the Hundon-raised player signed for the club last week.

The slow left-arm bowler joins the 2021 and 2022 Thurlow Nunn East Anglian Premier League champions from Copdock & Old Ipswichian with a plethora of top regional level as well as National Counties (formerly known as Minor Counties) experience with Suffolk.

Rams skipper Heath, delighted with his side’s newest recruit, said: “Jack is somebody that we’ve wanted to bring into the club for a couple of years now.

“He’s known by lots of lads at the club whether that be playing with or playing against. He’s always been someone we’ve been keen to bring in but the timing and stars didn’t ever really align until this season.

“I think he made it clear that he was quite keen for a new challenge and we were specifically looking to bring in a left-armed spinner that could bat, and he fits the mould perfectly.

“We very much work in characters before cricket because you can be the best player in the world but if they don’t fit into the group and buy into what we’re trying to achieve, it’s kind of pointless.

“We’ve had lots of discussions with Jack in the past and it didn’t really seem like the right time to move.

“But the stars have aligned, he wanted a new challenge and he was exactly the sort of player we were after.”

The 28-year-old has skippered both Copdock & OI and Suffolk, and Heath is delighted to add him to what is already an experienced Sawston & Babraham side.

“When you’re adding the cricketer that he is to the group, his experience is always going to help, but then also the character,” he said.

“If someone’s been a captain, they’re not going to be someone who shies away from responsibility or leading. Ultimately, I don’t think you can ever have enough people like that in your team.

“His experience in all the roles he’s had is going to be vital to us to be honest.”

Meanwhile, spinning all-rounder George Darlow, who was part of the side that won back-to-back Premier League titles, has returned to the club after he departed last summer, while Lee Thomason, who has National Counties experience with Cambridge, has also signed for Sawston & Babraham.

The majority of the squad remains the same for the upcoming campaign, apart from the departure of batsman Louis Kimber.

The side have already undergone two weeks of winter training ahead of their first friendly coming at Colchester on April 6, and Heath stated there is a ‘real togetherness and motivation’ about the team this year, as they look to win their third title in four seasons.

“Not to say we weren’t motivated last year, but I feel like there is a different vibe about us this year,” he said.

“We feel like we should have won it last year with the squad and players we have, but it kind of feels like we’ve got a point to prove with the bit between our teeth, we’re all hungry to go again really.

“I don’t think we were any better than second gear last year to be honest and we ended up coming second.

“There were some good performances in there without a doubt, but on the whole it wouldn’t be one that we look back on memorably. A lot of the good wins were getting ourselves out of holes that we put ourselves in in the first place.”