CRICKET: Star man McMahon might miss the entire Peterborough Town season

Peterborough Town professional Paul McMahon has suffered knee ligament damage.

Professional all-rounder Paul McMahon could miss the entire summer after suffering knee ligament damage whil playing football in Dubai.

McMahon, a prolific wicket-taker with his off-spinners, a handy middle order batsman and the team’s major cricketing brain, is in Dubai working for the ICC.

McMahon said: “I’ve completely torn my anterior cruciate knee ligaments playing football.

Paceman Petrus Jeftha has left Oundle Town CC.

“It was a really innocuous incident. I had just come away from a challenge with the ball and was changing direction to move into space when my right knee buckled underneath me.

“I’m going to have reconstructive surgery in a few weeks when the swelling has gone down.

“Best case recovery is six months, so I’m hopeful I’ll be able to play some part in the season, but it could be up to a year. It’s just one of those things I guess.”

McMahon (33) has been Town’s professonal since 2011. It’s not thought the club are seeking a paid replacement.

McMahon is also supposed to be skippering the Cambs Minor Counties team. Town team-mate Lewis Bruce could take over.

Town had looked to have assembled another strong squad under new skipper David Clarke as they seek to recapture the Northants Premier Division title they relinquished for the first time in four years.

Club legend Ajaz Akhtar has returned to the club from Market Deeping and England Under 17 fast bowler David Sayer should be available after a season on the sidelines because of injury.

Deeping have lost their star fast bowler Patrick Brown who will play for Malvern CC as part of his development with the Worcester Academy.

New ball partner Tom Andrews has also left the club because of work commitments in Surrey. Slow bowler Meli Aditia has also moved on because of business commitments

But Deeping have signed an Australian off-spinner Zac Simmonds as their overseas player in place of South African Emile Kriek.

Newborough pair Ross Harris and Ashley Fisher have also moved to Outgang Road.

Bashrat Hussain has replaced Phil Adams as Oundle Town captain. South African star Petrus Jeftha has left the club, but he’s been replaced by someone from the same country who bowls at an even quicker pace, according to Hussain.