Bermuda meet John Woolnough ? the latest batting sensation among the First Division ranks.

At age 26, this native of Middlesbrough in north-east England has quickly established himself at the top of Somerset Cricket Club?s pecking order as a hard-hitting right-handed opening batsman and ?tidy? wicketkeeper.

Woolnough, presently employed as an accountant at International Advisory Services (IAS), previously represented the likes of Norton CC and Wolviston CC in the North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket Leagues before progressing on to English county side Durham where he didn?t play professionally but did train for a full year with the squad.

Somerset?s newest addition made his debut on Saturday during the inaugural Kenneth (Mickey) Thompson Memorial Super Sevens Tournament (see story, Page 27) where he walked away with the individual award for the most runs scored (98).

But in a cruel twist of fate, the Englishman?s weekend was cut short when he was struck on the left arm by a fielder?s return throw at the stumps, leaving him out of Somerset?s squad against PHC on Sunday at White Hill Field.

A visit to the hospital revealed no fractures and Woolnough hopes to make a speedy return to Somerset?s starting eleven.

?I contacted Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB) and then Winston (Somerset coach Winston Reid) got in contact with me and so I went along and attended a few net sessions,? Woolnough told of his decision to join the West End club.

The University of Leicester graduate described Saturday?s sevens tournament as ?enjoyable?.

?It was the first time I had ever played sevens cricket and totally new to me,? he added. ?But I enjoyed it. The bowling wasn?t fast . . . but it was accurate over the stumps.

?It was really hot for me and the pitch was actually like an English pitch . . . very slow and I was able to quickly adjust.?

Woolnough, whose highest individual score in the UK is 123, arrived in Bermuda last January.

The player suffered a double-whammy on Saturday when he was controversially given out by umpire Wali Manders and then struck on the arm by a fielder?s throw at the stumps.

?It?s not broken,? he explained. ?It?s just really swollen at the moment.?

The Englishman appears to have settled in comfortably at his new abode and looks forward to doing what he does best . . . ripping into opposing bowling attacks.

?Hopefully I will get picked to play this weekend,? he said.

Somerset?s cricket chairman Anthony Bailey described the player?s arrival at Cricket Lane as ?excellent timing?, given regular wicketkeeper Reid Jones has been experiencing discomfort in his knees over the past two seasons.

?John has looked good both in the nets and behind the stumps,? Bailey assessed. ?Watching him play last Saturday he showed what he is made of. He is a classic English cricketer and hits the ball cleanly.?

Woolnough, Bailey hopes, will bring valuable experience to the team.

?He now stabilises our early order batting,? he noted. ?And our goal this year is to try to get promoted and John can help us down that road for sure.?