Joe Gatting to also be white-ball pro

April 26, 2021

JOE Gatting is to double up as Suffolk’s professional this season. Gatting had already agreed a deal to be Suffolk’s red-ball professional in their National Counties Cricket Association Eastern Division One campaign.

He will now also feature for Suffolk as their white-ball professional in this season’s 50-over Trophy competition, after Neil Dexter was unable to commit to playing for the county.

Gatting will be available for three of Suffolk’s four group games in the NCCA Trophy competition, which gets under way when they face Cambridgeshire at Burwell & Exning CC on Bank Holiday Monday,
May 31st.

He is due to make his Suffolk debut in a friendly fixture, also against Cambridgeshire, at Ipswich School on Sunday, May 9th.

The 33-year-old all-rounder, who is the nephew of ex-England and Middlesex captain Mike Gatting, previously played for Sussex and Hampshire.

Gatting, who has been the professional for the past five years at East Anglian Premier League side Swardeston, said: “I am very excited to play all forms of the game for Suffolk. I am really looking forward to
meeting all the boys and getting started on May 9th.

“Suffolk have a very exciting group of players and hopefully I can assist both on and off the pitch for a successful 2021 campaign.”

Suffolk head coach Andy Northcote said: “With Neil’s unfortunate unavailability, securing Joe is a great catch at such a late stage.

“Joe is someone we have spoken to for some time and to finally get to see him represent Suffolk is going to be quiet something.

“He is a match winner, through and through – a highly skilful and intelligent cricketer who can help our squad grow and make us compete against the perceived bigger sides. This summer should be a cracker.”

Former Kent, Middlesex and Leicestershire all-rounder Dexter had been signed as the county’s white-ball professional last season before COVID-19 wiped out the whole campaign.

The 36-year-old did play for Suffolk in the two T20 and one 50-over friendly versus Cambridgeshire last season and had said he was keen to fulfil the professional’s role this summer.

WORDS AND IMAGES – NICK GARNHAM

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