BOVEY Tracey Cricket Club have taken on up-and-coming Indian batsman Hem Chetri as their overseas player for another crack at getting back into the Tolchards DCL Premier Division.

Bovey were never far from the top four last season – they were briefly second after six games – but lacked the consistency to stay in the promotion picture.

Slade van Staden, last season’s overseas player, looked the part with 637 league runs. Only Jake Pascoe got past 400 in support.

Chetri, who has been playing First Class, List A and Twenty20 cricket for Nagaland, has the credentials to fill Staden’s role. Five First-Class half-centuries suggest he knows what he is doing.

Seb Ansley, the Bovey Tracey captain, is hoping to top-up the credit side of the batting stats from within the club.

“We will keep looking to internally develop and bring through the young players into the first team,” said Ansley.

Ansley has high expectations of Chetri, who also bowls off-spin.

“Hopefully, as a left-handed batting all-rounder Hem fits the profile of the team,” said Ansley.

“He looks to be a potential match winner and more than useful spinner, who will add to our bowling this season.”

Bovey do have a hole in the spin-bowling department this season as Will Christophers – 33 wickets last season, including a seven-wicket haul against Barton – has left the area to work.

Back at Bovey Tracey for another spell with the club is seamer Ryan Bougourd, most recently with Teignmouth & Shaldon.

Nominally, Bougourd has been recruited to play 2nd XI cricket in the B Division under Dan Green. It would not be a surprise to see him assisting the 1st XI in times of need.

Bovey Tracey meet newly promoted Budleigh Salterton first time out this Saturday.