PORTLAND Red Triangle captain Matt Randell hopes new overseas all-rounder Kyle Sloane will be “ready to go” before the start of the 2018 season.

New Zealander Sloane, 21, arrives from home side Merivale Papanui Cricket Club, where he was a part of the Senior A team set-up in the Christchurch League.

Sloane has already taken over 20 wickets for the Kiwi outfit this season and last year enjoyed a spell in the UK with Hillam and Monk Fryston Cricket Club in the Wetherby League, taking 32 wickets.

Randell explained the islanders had looked into procuring an overseas player after a meeting last Christmas and revealed Sloane should be available for their first league match at Broadstone Seconds on Saturday, May 5.

He told Echosport: “We were looking to arrange some pre-season warm-ups for the April 21or 28.

“He’s planning to be here for the 17th or 18th so hopefully he’ll be ready to go before the season.

“We sat down over the Christmas period mainly as a group from the first team at the club and said it would be quite nice to have someone come over.

“It’s just having that extra bit of experience around and another addition to pass off some experience to the youngsters.

“We looked at what agencies we could speak to and we managed to sign him up, which is quite nice.”

Sloane’s arrival at Reforne will strengthen an already fierce bowling attack, with Triangle possessing Dorset Leopards seamer Simon Proffitt and the improving Matt Barrett in their ranks.

Randell said: “Simon is still going to open the bowling for us, we’ll be looking for Kyle to open with him.

“Jon Cameron is stepping down to the seconds to bolster them a bit more. We’ll still have Matt coming on as first change.

“We’re going to have quite a consistent amount of pace through the innings which will be quite nice to see.”

Randell was also excited by Sloane’s batting style, with the Portland skipper promising the Kiwi does not “hang back” in his approach.

He said: “From speaking to him he likes to go at it a little bit. I think he’ll slot perfectly in that lower middle order with us.

“I’m pretty confident that he’s not going to hang back, which will be quite nice to watch. It will be a good show to be a part of.”