CULLOMPTON are gearing up for a promotion push in the Tolchards DCL B Division in the season ahead with a raft of new signings.

Having finished six points and one place short of a promotion place in 2023, skipper Brendon Parr knows where he wants to be by the last Saturday in August this year.

“Our aim is to get back into the A Division,” said Parr. “Having just missed out last season, we are aiming for the top two this time.”

Parr has made four close-season captures so far with Sri Lankan Deshan Dias at the top of the list.

Dias, who will be 32 when the season start in May, is a professional cricketer with more than a decade spent playing First Class, List A and Twenty 20 cricket.

Having been educated at St Sebastian’s College Moratuwa, where future Test stars Duleep Mendis, Prasanna Jayawardene and Amila Aponso started out, Dias played for Sri Lanka at under-17 and under-19 level as a keeper-batsman.

Dias made his First-Class debut in 2012 and, during a peripatetic career, has clocked-up more than 3,100 First-Class runs, in excess of 1,110 runs in List A games and 256 in Twenty20 cricket. With an average in all three formats above 25, he is a consistent run scorer.

“Deshan will bring us further experience and, hopefully, a little more stability up-front, where we struggled at times last year,” said Parr.

Milnrow CC, a team from Rochdale, engaged Dias for their campaign in the Greater Manchester Cricket League last season. His stats were 810 runs at an average in the high 50s and 17 snares behind the stumps. Dias also bowls off-spin and collected 13 bonus wickets for Milnrow.

With Dan King firmly established behind the Cullompton stumps, Parr is likely to ask Dias to supplement the bowling attack.

“With Deshan to bowl off-spin our attack will include seamers, two spinners and a left-armer, which should cover most options,” said Parr.

Also on the way to Cullompton for the summer ahead is much-travelled batsman and occasional left-arm seamer Dinesh Raheja.

Raheja, once with Heathcoat and more recently attached to South Devon, Ivybridge and latterly Dartington & Totnes, has a business-like record batting in the middle divisions of the Tolchards DCL.

With 21 half-centuries and six tons – which include a career-best 123 not out for South Devon against Plymouth CS&R in 2017 – Raheja adds extra ammunition to Cullompton’s early order. He should reach the 4,000 league runs landmark this summer.

Said Parr: “Dinesh has played indoor cricket with us for a while and has finally been persuaded to come across permanently.

“His record speaks for itself – his batting average is in the high 40s – and we are delighted to have him on board.

Ben Smith, a batter who has played for Devon at under-15 level, has moved from Culmstock looking to play at a higher level.

And with Akshay Bharadwa also on board – he played mostly for Taunton St Andrews last season – Cullompton have acquired a leg-spin bowler who can also bat. He took 23 first and second-team wickets for the Saints last season – and five more in three guest appearances for DCL side Kingskerswell & Chelston.

“With the new additions added to the squad, , it's certainly looking like an exciting line-up,” said Parr.