Peterborough Town sign a cricketer with three first-class tons and 20,000 Instragram followers!

Sri Lankan Salinda Ushan will play for the reigning Northants Premier Division and Rutland Division One champions subject to successful visa and work permit applications.

Ushan has an excellent pedigree. He’s an accomplished left-handed opening batsman who has excelled in Sri Lanka’s first class game and and played in an under 19 World Cup in Bangladesh.

The 23 year-old has three first class tons and four fifties to his name.

Town’s last overseas professional was Australian Marcus Stoinis who played part of the city side’s 2012 Northants title-winning campaign. Stoinis is now a regular in Australia’s national One Day and T20 international teams.

Ushan will play for Town in all competitions and he will be heavily involved in coaching the club’s junior players.

“We’re delighted to sign Salinda,” Town skipper David Clarke said. “We haven’t been down the overseas route for a few years now and we wanted to make sure if we did go back it would be for a good one who is willing and keen to coach the juniors rather than a youngster with potential.

“Salinda fits the bill. He is young still, but experienced and he has good form in Sri Lanka’s first-class competitions. He has three first-class tons and 20,000 Instagram followers which must mean something!”

Salinda will also play in the Northants and Rutland Leagues and he will play in the cup competitions.

“He’s a left-handed bat who can also bowl some off-spin.”

Ushan will replace gifted all-rounder Rob Sayer who has emigrated to Australia, but the rest of last season’s successful Town squad is intact.

Clarke might miss the start of the season after undergoing a knee operation.

* Ramsey CC have signed high-class left-arm spinner James Sykes for the 2020 Cambs League season.

Sykes was on Leicestershire’s books for many seasons.

Ramsey have also signed up Australian left-arm seamer Tommy Hams.