CHURCH Cricket Club have returned to its happy hunting ground to secure the services of another New South Wales player as professional for the forthcoming season.

All-rounder Greg Mail follows in the footsteps of Peter Taylor, Graham Smith and last year's pro Mark Higgs as the paid man at the Lancashire League club.

Mail, 25, played in the Donald Bradman XI against England XI at the Bowral in January and impressed with an unbeaten 37, two wickets and two run-outs.

He has recorded top scores of 176 against Tasmania and 150 not out against South Australia -- both in 2001 -- while he hit 54 in two matches for New South Wales against South Africa in the same year.

While he rarely bowls for a State side that also includes Brett Lee, Shane Lee and Glenn McGrath, he is regarded as an all-rounder and bowls medium right arm for his club team Balmain in Sydney.

Mail played in England as a non-professional with Northern in the Liverpool Competition in 1998 and scored 1,100 runs in 20 knocks with an average of 85. He also took 47 wickets.

Jack Houldsworth, assistant secretary of the Blackburn Road club, said: "When you talk about New South Wales you are talking about quality and I am sure Greg Mail is no different. He has a very good pedigree and while he has yet to play for Australian he must be very good to play in a State side packed full of quality players.

" As always, we are expecting big things from our professional and Greg comes highly regarded."