EAST Lancs have snapped up South African slow left-armer Claude Henderson as professional for next season.

The 26-year-old, who plays for Western Province, replaces Australian Brad Young as paid man at the Alexandra Meadows club.

The club's Lancashire League representative, Larry Pearson, said: "I've been following Claude's career for the last three or four years and there were three other clubs also interested so we are delighted to have signed him up.

"He played for the South African A team last summer so he is not far off the full international side, although we are obviously hoping he will not be considered for the World Cup."

Henderson built up a reputation as a handy slow left-armer who bats right-handed during a stint with Boland during the early 90s.

He was called up for the A tour to Sri Lanka last summer and began the current domestic season with Western Province as a team mate of former East Lancs pro Alan Dawson.

In his two previous spells as a league professional in England he played in the Birmingham District League and the Derbyshire County League, where he took 87 wickets playing for Querndon.

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