CHAIRMAN Paul Rowley is expecting new Lechlade overseas players Sylvester Joseph to have a major impact on all areas of the club, not just the first team.

The 35-year-old West Indian has played five Tests and 13 ODIs for his country, beginning with an ODI debut against Pakistan in 2000 before a Test debut against England four years later.

He will now link up with the Glos/Wilts Division side for the 2014 season as the club’s overseas player, and while Rowley has backed him to deliver on the pitch he also believes the former international star can be a positive influence while working with the club’s youngsters.

“We still have Luke Sellars in the role as club coach, and that isn’t changing, but Sylvester will certainly get stuck in with the juniors and I’m sure the first team can learn a thing or two off him as well if they open up their ears,” he said.

“He will have an impact on all areas of the club, I’m sure of that, and it’s going to be great to have him on board.

“He’s obviously a high quality batsman and anyone who has played for his country, although he didn’t have a sustained career there, has to be something special.

“He’s a leader as well as he captained the Leeward Islands in first class cricket over there, so we are hoping he’s going to rock up and score a load of runs for us.

“It’s clearly a drop in standard for him so on that basis you would like to think he will show his quality over the course of the season, although I don’t want to predict how many runs he will score.

“He’s got a good cricket brain, which is another big string to our bow, we have a few of them already, and you certainly can’t have too many.”

“We are excited about this because it’s a step up from where we’ve been in the past, but the proof will be in the pudding.”

Lechlade have also signed former Paulton player Ryan Higgins, and although the acquisition of Joseph will get more attention, Rowley believes the all-rounder is a vital piece of the puzzle.

“I’ve played against Ryan in the past and he’s a fantastic cricketer, an accomplished batsmen and a more than useful leg spinner.

“He’s a good addition to the ranks as well and it shows how much of an ambitious club we are.”