ACCRINGTON have signed Ashwell Prince as their new professional for the 2002 season.

The Transco Lancashire League side are delighted to have landed the 24-year-old Western Province batsman, who starred for South Africa A against the Australians in a warm-up match to the three-test series in Potchefstroom, South Africa, this week.

The left-hand bat, medium or offspin bowler has scored 2,794 runs in first class cricket at an average of 36.8 and in one day matches he has scored 954 runs at an average of 21.7.

Accrington Chairman Peter Barratt said: "He was one of a top group of South Africans that we have been looking at and comes highly recommended by former Ramsbottom pro Craig Norris.

"Ashwell isn't renowned for his bowling, but Craig thinks that he will take wickets for us in addition to scoring plenty of runs. He is also an outstanding fielder.

"There have been reports that he has problems with a shoulder injury, but Craig has assured us that he is over that and he is throwing the ball in as hard as ever. We are confident that our amateur bowling will serve us well this season.

"Ashwell, along with the other South African professionals in the league, will have to go home at the beginning of September, but we will have a replacement lined up in good time."

Ashwell scored 92 in the draw against Australia, which was a warm up match to the three-Test series between South Africa and Australia, which begins tomorrow.

Also in action from the Lancashire League was Rawtenstall pro Andrew Hall, who also starred taking five wickets, Lowerhouse pro Jaques Rudolph, who scored 14 with the bat, and Colne pro Charl Langeveldt, who was out for 10.

Former East Lancs pro Claude Henderson scored seven and took two wickets and the ex-Burnley pro Dale Benkenstein, who captained the side was run out without scoring.

'Ash' is not Accrington's first overseas professional was a South African, the legendary Charlie Llewellyn back in 1911. Eddie Barlow (1964), Peter Swart (1969), Prince's current teammate Neil Johnson (1993) and Chad Grainger (1996) are more recent additions to the list.

The South African is no stranger to English conditions, having acted as professional at Morecambe in 1999 and 2000.