A DOUBLE swoop for a pair of Kiwi aces this week looks set to put Netherfield CC at the forefront of the chase for silverware in the coming season.

The Parkside Road men have snapped up New Zealand all rounder Matt McEwan as their professional for the 2020 season.

And they have immediately followed up the signing by capturing McEwan’s countryman Dan Bernet as the club’s overseas amateur for the coming campaign.

Ben Barrow, who the club has this week confirmed will once again be first team skipper this year, was understandably delighted at the double signing and is relishing the looming Northern League campaign.

“Matt is a ‘hit the wicket’ seamer and we’re really pleased to have him on board,” said Barrow.

“He is a consistent performer in first class cricket in New Zealand and he leads from the front on the field.

“Matt’s record in red ball cricket is even better than his record in white ball cricket, and he’s played a season in Scotland in 2014 so will be well used to the conditions he will experience here.

“And Dan comes to us highly recommended. He’s a dynamic all rounder who is also a superb fielder.”

McEwan, 28, is an aggressive seamer and middle order batsman who has been a regular for Auckland in the Plunket Shield, the main New Zealand domestic competition.

His countryman Ternet, who is 24 and from New Plymouth, has played for Taranaki and NPMU.

Ternet is an accomplished middle order batsman and slow left arm bowler.

And Netherfield have also announced this week that both Nathan Chambers and Tom Williamson, who were both key members of the title winning side in 2017, will be back in the ranks for the 2020 campaign.

Barrow explained that Chambers was sidelined last term after undergoing a shoulder operation but was now back to full fitness and raring to go.

Williamson was absent as he was completing his medical studies in Edinburgh, and he represented the Scottish universities cricket side while he was studying north of the border.

With such a strong squad to choose from, Barrow said he was relishing the challenges of the coming campaign, and the Parkside Road men will also have plenty of back up with the club also confirming this week that Scott Clement will skipper the second XI with Steve Wilson taking charge of the third team.

The squad begin pre-season nets at Dallam School early next month as they step up preparations for the new Northern League season, which begins with a home clash against Chorley on April 18.

But before that, the club stage another big event when they host ‘An Evening with Jon Parkin,’ the colourful former PNE player pitching up at Parkside Road on February 22.

Tickets are £20, full details via the NCC website or Facebook page.