RAMSBOTTOM are looking forward to the arrival of their new professional Michael Clarke.

The 20-year-old Aussie, who plies his trade with the New South Wales Blues, hit his first century of the season in a Pura Cup game last month.

And Ramsbottom coach Mick Everett is hoping the right hand bat can continue that form for the rest of the season and into the Transco Lancashire League campaign.

"He sounds like a grand lad and he is looking forward to coming," said Everett.

"First and foremost he is a runmaker but we are hoping he will get a few wickets too.

"One of our former pros, Murray Bennett, who is a coach at New South Wales, has given him rave reviews and has said he is a better bowler than he gives himself credit for.

"It will be his first overseas job but he has been here before on tour and we are hoping he can settle in.

"We have had a few lads before who have been in their first overseas job and it does sometimes take them a while to feel at home and get used to the wickets over here.

"But that's a chance you take. We had Ian Chapple here when he was 19 and he went on to be a future Australia Test captain."

Clarke was captain of the Australia Under 19 side last season and was the vice-captain of the side 12 months before that.

"He is obviously someone the Australians think is very promising and is possibly being groomed as a future captain of Australia," said Everett.

"He is getting first team cricket at the moment and that will be helped by the Tests which will take some of the better players, such as the Waughs, away from the side, but that can only help him develop his game."

Ramsbottom's former pro Brad Hodge, who refused to return for a third season in England because he wanted to concentrate on a push to get into the Australia side, has not been picked for the Australia A side for the forthcoming one day series.

"I don't know what he has to do to get into the side," said Everett. "He has been picked for the A side before but for some reason they have left him out this time.

"His side, Victoria, are not doing too well this season, though."

Ramsbottom, who finished a disappointing 10th last season, have also lost Mark Dentith, who has joined Bolton Association side Walshaw as a coach.

But Everett is hoping to sign Central Lancashire League side Unsworth's Keith Webb for the coming season.

"He is a good player and he said he is going to sign. He is living in Ramsbottom at the moment.

"And we have three young lads, Lee Daggett, David Bell and Spencer Woods, who have been in Perth in Australia all winter playing second and third class cricket so hopefully that will have done their games the world of good."