JOE Breet is perplexed as to why first-class outfits haven’t taken a closer look at Lechlade’s overseas run-machine Brad Dial.

Captain Breet has been blown away by the exploits of his 20-year-old fellow South African, who was an U19 world champion with his country in 2014 and became the first player to smash the 1000-run barrier in the West of England Premier League this season with his century against Shapwick & Polden last weekend.

Highlighting Gareth Roderick, who was snapped up by Gloucestershire after scoring 1311 Glos/Wilts Divison runs for Cheltenham in 2012, as an example of a player plucked from the WEPL, former Wiltshire skipper Breet is in no doubt that Dial has the necessary quality to step up.

After less than two seasons at the Manor Ground, Dial is already the sixth-highest run-scorer, in all competitions, in the club’s history.

“I look at the guy (Roderick) who earned a Gloucestershire contract and I’m really surprised someone from a higher level hasn’t offered something to Brad,” said Breet.

“He’s having the best season I’ve ever seen a batsman have.

“We’ve got links with Gloucestershire and he’s spoken to them but they’ve said that they’ve got enough batsmen.

“That would be fine if they were winning a lot of games but they’re not.

“He’s definitely good enough and he’s doing it in Premier Two as well – I don’t know why teams haven’t come in for him.”

Lechlade bested basement boys Shapwick by 10 runs last weekend and are currently sixth, with Breet satisfied with his team’s position during their first foray into the Premier Two division.

Tomorrow, they host seventh-placed Goatacre but the Lechlade captain is preaching caution ahead of a clash with a team that are in the national quarter-finals of the National Village Cup.

“I don’t think we’ve named the same team for weeks, which is good considering how well we’ve done. We want to try and get into the top half,” said Breet.

“We won’t be underestimating Goatacre at all. Their captain (Ed Wilkins) scored 50 or 60 against us earlier this season and I’m surprised he hasn’t been pushed towards Wiltshire.

“I also know Ed Kilbee from my time with Wiltshire and he’s a good player.”