DREW Postlethwaite is excited by what he believes Roy Kaia can bring to Haverigg, after the Zimbawean all-rounder agreed to join the club as their overseas player for the 2018 season.

Kaia, who is currently starring with both bat and ball for Mountaineers in Zimbawe’s Logan Cup, takes over the professional spot at Poolside, filled by Dalton Polius for the past two years.

Haverigg captain Postlethwaite hailed Polius’ contribution to the club during that time, and is now looking forward to 26-year-old Kaia contributing in both a playing and coaching capacity.

“We are thrilled to have signed Roy Kaia for the 2018 season”, said Postlethwaite.

“We’ve been talking to him over the past couple of weeks and he’s the sort of player we’re after, both on and off the field.

“He’s a really keen player and is looking forward to his first stint as a club professional. Roy’s the ideal age for us at 26, with us having a relatively young side, so settling into the team and club should be easy for him.

“After having a great club professional in Dalton Polius for the past two seasons, we wanted a similar sort of player and someone who’s keen to coach our rejuvenated junior section and the club are confident Roy can carry on where Dalton left off.”

Top-order batsman Kaia has already scored 285 runs at an average of 47.50 for Mountaineers so far this season, while his off-spin bowling has claimed eight wickets for 34.12 apiece.

Kaia has been capped by Zimbabwe too, although he did not get to bat or bowl in his sole one-day international appearance against Pakistan in 2015, as the match fell victim to the weather.

He comes highly recommended by another former Haverigg professional, all-time Kenyan great Steve Tikolo, who was his captain when both were playing for the Southern Rocks franchise.

“It’s very exciting to have Roy Kaia as our professional for 2018”, said Haverigg vice-captain Jordan Postlethwaite.

“He’s of international pedigree, so he’s obviously very talented and I’m sure he’ll be a big hit on Poolside.

“I would like to thank our consummate professional for the past two seasons, Dalton Polius, for really turning around our fortunes as a club on the whole and also to Steven Hirst, of CricX, for his help and patience in ensuring Roy’s signature for the 2018 season.”