Carrickfergus Cricket Club, who will be playing outside the NCU’s Premier League for the first time in a decade, have announced the signing of 24 year old South African all-rounder Louis Delport as their overseas player/ coach for the 2013 season.
Delport is a left arm spin bowler and left handed top order batsman who plays for Belville Cricket Club in Cape Town’s Premier Competition and is also a member of the Western Province Amateur Provincial Squad, although he has yet to make his first class debut. He has been an outstanding performer in the top tier competition since his debut in 2008, establishing himself as one of the leading spinners in the competition with over 50 wickets in each of the last 3 seasons, as well as scoring consistent runs in the middle order. Louis, who is an all-round sportsman, also excels at rugby, tennis, swimming and athletics, but it is cricket that has remained his first love. He was selected for the Cape Peninsula Cricket Academy, and in 2006 he made the South African Cricket Academy side which toured India and Australia, giving him the opportunity to gain experience playing in a variety of conditions and has helped in shaping his all-round game. He played his first season in the UK in 2012 for Pyrford CC in the Surrey Championship where he was third top wicket taker (just behind former England spinner Shaun Udal)with 36 wickets, as well as hitting four half centuries opening the batting. The young South African comes highly recommended by sources in South Africa and Surrey who endorse his efforts both on and off the field. He is a South Africa Cricket Board Level 2 coach, and shares his passion for the game with the pupils at Blouberg International School in Cape Town where he coaches. The school says that he has helped many young cricketers realise their potential and they are proud to have Louis as their cricket coach. He will be a welcome addition to Clubmark NI Accredited Club Carrick’s impressive line-up of coaches which includes the club’s Director of Coaching Mikey Taiaroa, and Ireland Under 19 Coach Ryan Eagleson, as well as a number of other ECB qualified coaches who coach regularly both at the club and in local schools.
Carrickfergus, who will be captained this season by spinner Iain Parkhill, look forward to having Louis Delport as part of their on and off the field team in 2013. With Delport, and quality players like prolific batsman Taiaroa and former Ireland all-rounder Eagleson at their disposal, as well as having a number of exciting young talents such as Michael Gilmour and Alex Haggan in their ranks, Carrick will hope to make an impression in Section 1, where they will be expected to be among the front runners for promotion.