RIBBLESDALE League oufit Baxenden have snapped up Australian paceman Ronnie Davis as professional for next season.

The Back Lane club had signed up David Usher for another year but his contract has been terminated by mutual consent due to a troublesome neck injury, although he has agreed to stay on as an amateur.

Davis played for Little Leaver in the Bolton League last season as an amateur but had a two-year stint as Chorley's paid-man in the Northern League before that.

The New South Wales man is a lively fast medium bowler who also proved handy with the bat in his spell at Windsor Park.

"Ronnie has had a good season in the Bolton League and we've got him basically to better our bowling attack," said Baxenden's new cricket chairman Paul Clegg.

"We want to be a lot stronger next year and there are a number of other people we are hoping will join us.

"As a club we are doing very well in other areas so it's about time we transformed that on to the pitch."

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