3:35pm Wednesday 24th February 2010
By Matt Donlan
ALL of the Lancashire League clubs now have professionals after the final three confirmed appointments of their paid men for the new season.
And one of the new pros is an old face whose time in the league was cut short by injury.
Aaron Heal, who was starring at Rishton last season before a knee injury forced his return to Western Australia, has signed for Lowerhouse.
Meanwhile Nelson have snapped up New South Wales batsman Peter Forrest.
The highly-rated Forrest replaces South African Robin Petersen at Seedhill after the former Test man decided to take up an offer from Derbyshire to operate as a Kolpak player at the County Ground this summer.
Lowerhouse chairman Stan Heaton said: “We are very confident that Aaron will have a great season with us.
“He is a quality player and provides us with a very balanced all round attack.
“He should be able to benefit from his previous experience in the League.”
Worsley Cup holders Ramsbottom have also moved to sign batsman Usman Khawaja.
The Acre Bottom outfit were forced to find another pro after first choice, Indian Test man Aakash Chopra, was injured during the current Indian domestic season.
Pakistani-born left-hander Khawaja, a New South Wales team-mate of Australian vice-captain and ex-Ramsbottom paid man Michael Clarke, has plundered 1,200 First Class runs in two years.
Last season he hit back-to-back tons against Queensland and Western Australia in State cricket.
He replaces former West Indian opening batsman Brenton Parchment at the Worsley Cup holders and arrives in East Lancashire with a big reputation.
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