The County Ground, where Michael de Iacovo will be playing this summer<br>credit: https://www.ppauk.com/photo/2151427/

By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

EXETER have got their overseas player in place early for the Premier campaign having played half of last season without one.

Aussie opener Michael de Iacovo has his visa in place and will be arriving in time for the start of the new season.

Exeter had issues with visas and availability last season and had to find a mid-season replacement. South African Josh Arendse was the substitute overseas.

“Michael will be here all season and in a side that notoriously changes a lot as students come and go will give us some much-needed stability,” said Exeter's player-committeeman Mark Gribble.

“He is also keen to expand his coaching experience, which is great for us as we have 150 young players on our books who need coaching.

“Michael is a batter with a hundred to his name in First Grade cricket at home during the current season and also bowls left-arm spin.”

Melbourne side St Kilda is 26-year-old Iacovo’s club. He has been there since 2012.

Exeter also hope to see Kiwi Phil Macready back at the County Ground after a season off.

Macready, a left-arm seamer, falls outside the overseas regulations due to Irish parentage.

HEATHCOAT have revealled Aussie bowler Shea Gribben will be their new overseas player when they start the defence of their Premier title in May.

New skipper Peter Randerson, who has taken over from title-winning captain Jackson Thompson, has already confirmed the departure of South African seamer Malcolm Cloete after two seasons at Knightshayes.

As Cloete took 44 wickets last season – more than any other bowler in the top flight – and 23 the year before their will be no shortage of takers for his services. North Devon, relegated from the Premier Division last season, are thought to be interested in Cloete if he returns to Devon.

 

Gribben is a proven wicket-taker in Melbourne grade cricket, where he is a club-mate of Exeter's new signing Michael de Iacovo. He has 188 Grade scalps at around 20 runs each.