Dear Members,
The club is proud to announce that George Balderson, who was recently selected to play for Young England Lions, currently on a training camp in India, has also been awarded a two year professional contract by Lancashire County Cricket Club.
As such George will become a professional cricketer at the conclusion of his A Levels in June 2019, signing a two year contract.

Everyone at Hyde is delighted for George who as been a popular member of our first team for the last two seasons.

In addition to his performances for Hyde, where he has established himself as one of the County League's most successful allrounders, George has enjoyed some great success in representative cricket for Cheshire Juniors and the Lancashire Academy.
He has also achieved selection, following several high profile trials, for the North of England and now the Young England Lions.
Last season, despite a hand injury picked up whilst playing for Lancs Academy, which put him out for 7 weeks at the height of summer, George emerged with some fabulous performances, and overcame this obvious setback with apparent ease.

It is evident to everyone who has watched George play that he is a superb player in the making, as a right arm quick, and a stylish and consistent left handed opening batsmen.
Some notable performances include a Premier League century, for Hyde, against Chester BH, who have one of the strongest bowling attacks in the league and an innings of 98 not out, for Lancs academy, v Staffs.
Last season George scored a magnificent 800 runs, and formed a prolific opening partnership with our new skipper Tom Partridge.
He has also backed up these performances with some excellent bowling at every level and is now approaching equal stature with the Cheshire County League's best performers.

All this hard work has now been rewarded.
It should also be noted that the Academy leaders and selectors involved in George’s career so far, and therefore those who have been impressed having watched him first hand, are some of this country's leading coaches, including Lancashire Academy Director Gary Yates, former red rose captain, John Abrahams, former England bowler Jon Lewis and lately, Lancashire County Cricket Club Chairman and former England star, Paul Allott.

We all wish George all the very best.

In fact, George is hopeful the current training camp in India will lead to his selection for England Under 19, who tour Bangladesh in January.

I would also like to congratulate Luke Young, Ben Balderson (George’s younger brother) and James Chew, three young players of great potential, who have been invited to play on the “Emerging Player Programmes” at Lancashire, Cheshire and Worcestershire respectively.
They have worked really hard to get to this level, where only those players of the highest potential are selected.
Lets hope they can follow in George’s footsteps…

Regards

John B
Secretary