CIYMS have continued their winter recruitment drive with the prized captures of Jeremy Bray and Ryan Butterworth.

Bray, the former Ireland opening batsman, has joined the Belfast club from Phoenix, while Zimbabwean-born Butterworth was the overseas player at Eglinton last season.

Bray and Butterworth will join Taimur Khan at Belmont, with CI fast assembling a squad capable of making a significant impression in this summer’s NCU Premier League.

Bray, who was born in Sydney, played 83 times for Ireland, averaging almost 32. He made more than 2,800 runs, hitting 12 fifties and seven hundreds before he retired from international cricket in 2009.
The 38-year-old left-hander is now in the twilight of his career but will nevertheless be a formidable presence at the top of the order. He enjoyed a previous spell with Eglinton in the North West but has never played in the NCU, a fact which CI spokesman Daniel McConkey identified as a key influence in Bray’s decision to join.

“We are delighted to sign a player of Jeremy’s calibre,” said McConkey. “He is looking forward to playing in the NCU, he has never played here before and wants to test himself in our league. Due to his heavy coaching schedule with Cricket Ireland, Jeremy also felt it was more beneficial to continue his playing career in Belfast. There will be some very good coaching opportunities provided for him at CI.”

Bray, who is the current Ireland women’s coach, will also be tasked with developing a female team at Belmont. The women’s game has yet to take off in the NCU in the manner it has done in the Dublin area.

Butterworth, who will take the role of player-coach, arrives at CI after an impressive maiden season in the North West. The fast-bowling all-rounder was unable to save Eglinton from relegation but struck 744 runs at an average of almost 34 and took 46 wickets, a total only surpassed by Andy Britton of Fox Lodge.

McConkey said: “Ryan had an excellent season with Eglinton, he made plenty of runs and took more than 40 wickets, so I’m sure he will make a major impact in the NCU. The arrival of Taimur from North Down has been the catalyst for the other signings and he has already been doing good work in the indoor nets with the juniors.”

After marrying a local woman, Butterworth is Ireland qualified, meaning CI retain the option of signing an overseas player to join an already formidable trio of stars.

In other news Strabane have confirmed that South African Jonathan Beukes will not be returning as overseas professional.