With Dorking Cricket Club (DCC) 1stXI once again gaining promotion in the The Travelbag Surrey Championship to division 2 this season, DCC have signed left hander Chris Beaty (27) from South Australia’s Premier Competition to bolster their ranks.

With the departure of club pro Nick Lee to the Sri Lankan National Cricket Team, and the career of Jason Swift reaching new heights at Sussex County Cricket Club, Club Captain Scott Kelsey and Club Chairman David Spackman both agreed that a large hole had appeared at both ends of the Dorking attack. It is hoped that Beaty with his left-arm swing bowling and his strong batting record will help bring victory to Pixham Lane.

Scott Kelsey (1stXI Captain Since Summer 2015) is “overjoyed after another fantastic season for the club” and after recent promotion to Division 2 “anticipates much excitement in the Surrey Championship this summer for the team”, under Kelseys recent leadership, the 1stXI have manged to attain a recent record of 52 wins from 63 matches, which have been some of the best statistics recorded in recent times in the clubs 245 year history.

Beaty is a left-arm seam bowler who can also bat high up for the team and has recently been playing for Adelaide University (the 'Blacks') in South Australia's Premier Competition (SACA). Beaty moved to AUCC this summer and courtesy of stand-out performances in the second and third grades, earned his first grade debut in round 4 against West Torrens, in side that features the likes of former State players Andy Delmont, Nick Winter and ex Leicestershire gloveman Michael Burgess.

A left-arm swing bowler and hard-hitting middle-order batsman, Beaty boasts an impressive record in the Australian Whyalla A Grade Competition. Over his 62 matches, dating back to the 2009/10 season, Beaty scored 1,537 runs at 32.02 and took 84 wickets at 15.76. His final season, in 2015/16, was his best taking 24 wickets at 11.25 alongside 422 runs at 52.75 including best performances of 7-19 and 95*.

The all-rounder, who represented South Australia Country at Under-16 level, also broke into the Senior SA Country Outbacks in 2014/15.

Beaty will be making his Dorking debut at Home on Saturday 6th May against the Bank of England 1stXI