LEIGH Cricket Club have brought in Ross Zelem for the forthcoming season.

Zelem, currently playing the winter in Australia, is one of Lancashire’s up-and-coming young batters, has represented North of England and made his debut for the county second XI last season.

Aged 18, he is an early order batsman with a track record of playing long innings and has an old head on young shoulders.

He is relishing the challenge of playing with Leigh in one of the ECB’s Premier Leagues, the Liverpool and District Competition.

Zelem will be joining an already strengthened squad, which will have the services of County Championship players Karl Brown and Steven Mullaney to call on, as well as captain Mattie McKiernan and ‘keeper/batter, Joe Davies, both of whom have had recent Lancashire second XI experience.

McKiernan said: “Securing Ross for Leigh is a major coup for the club and he will provide undoubted batting strength to the early order.

“I’ve had the pleasure of playing county cricket with Ross on many occasions over recent years, so I have had the chance to watch his undoubted skills up close.”