VTCA 2018-19: Scotland fast bowler Chris Sole signs on at Seddon

SEDDON has secured a fast bowler with 15 games to his name at the top level for the entire VTCA Turner Shield season in a recruiting coup.

Chris Sole sends one down for Scotland against England in June. Picture: Getty Images

SEDDON has secured Scotland fast bowler Chris Sole for the entire VTCA Turner Shield season in a recruiting coup.

Sole has represented his country 15 times — in 11 one-day internationals and four T20Is — and is set to shake up rival batsmen this summer.

The Dockers were in discussions with the 24-year-old, who is good friends with new coach Josh Beaumont, for about three months before he committed.

Sole will commute from Bendigo to play for Seddon and is the perfect replacement for Englishman Tim Moses, who has departed to take up a teaching job in the UK after topping the competition’s bowling charts with 40 wickets in 2017-18.

“We think with Chris on board after losing Tim, we’ve got a decent bowling attack,” Dockers president Leigh Davies said.

“We’re pretty excited about his signing.

“He bowls at about 135km/h, so we’re excited about that.

“His one-day bowling record is very impressive.”

From his 11 appearances for Scotland in the 50-over format, Sole has 18 wickets to his name at 26 apiece with a best haul of 4-28.

All-rounder Damith Priyadasharna is likely to be Sole’s new ball partner this season after arriving from Haig Fawkner, where he took 15 wickets and made 228 runs in 2017-18.

Kendrick Hatton, a left-arm spinner from Wollongong, has also signed on after living in England for two years.

Tim Moses starred for Seddon last season. Picture: Hamish Blair

Lahiru Jayaratne has left and will play in Sri Lanka after collecting 33 wickets at 16.8 last summer.

“Tim has gone home. He reckons he might be back next season and is aiming to be back,” Davies said.

“Jayaratne got a contract with Sri Lanka Cricket, so he’s in the squad of 40 or 50 over there so we couldn’t get him back.”

Seddon progressed to the semi-finals last season before being eliminated by eventual runner-up Doutta Stars.

“We think we’ll be top four again. That’s the aim,” Davies said.

“Hopefully we can get into the semis and go from there.

“The good thing is we’ve got about 15 new players, so hopefully that will strengthen us through the grades.”