Adshead set to make Herefordshire return (From Hereford Times)

Adshead set to make Herefordshire return

8:10am Saturday 20th March 2010 in

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WICKETKEEPER/batsman Steve Adshead looks set to link up with Herefordshire again for the forthcoming season.

The former Worcestershire and Gloucestershire man is currently playing in South Africa but will return to the Minor Counties fold on his return.

Adshead played for Herefordshire in 1999 making two appearances both in the Minor Counties Championship and in one-day cricket and his modest record, in terms of statistics, hid his evident talent.

The 30-year-old moved on swiftly to Leicestershire, joining Worcestershire two years later.

Chances in his home county - he was born in Redditch - were limited for Adshead who joined Gloucestershire in 2004 and has been a regular choice in recent seasons.

A top score of 156 and more than 200 victims during his time with Gloucestershire made him a valuable player and his release at the end of last season came as something of a surprise.

Also joining Herefordshire are the Kidderminster batting duo of James Ralph and Craig Wood.

Wood made 704 runs at an average of 41 in the Birmingham League last season.

Ralph, 34, skippered Shropshire last season and played in all nine of their matches, scoring 270 runs at an average of just under 25 with a top score of 81.

He can also bowl leg-spin and picked up seven wickets at a cost of under 13 apiece.

He played one first-class game for Worcestershire in 1996 but it will hardly be a fond memory as he recorded a pair against South Africa A.

The three arrivals are offset by the departures of three local players from the county scene.

Ben Stebbings, who is studying at Oxford Brookes University and is a member of the Oxford Universities Centre of Cricketing Excellence, has decided to throw in his lot with Oxfordshire.

And Henry Langford and Andy Sutton have asked for their release to pursue opportunities with other counties.

On last season's form, opening batsman Stebbings will be the biggest loss after missing just one championship match and scoring 189 runs at an average of 21.

During the previous season, Langford had shown plenty of promise but his figures last year of just 24 runs from four innings last term belied his ability.

Opening bowler Sutton returned to Herefordshire after spells on the Lord's groundstaff and with Somerset but was picked for just one championship outing last term.