Kamtekar signs up for Middle Road men

“We are delighted to have secured the services of Kamy and Jamie, and look forward to both of them making a positive contribution to our Club, both on and off the field this season,” a club spokesman said.

Left-arm spinner and middle order batsman Kamtekar will be returning for a 12th season in NCU cricket, following successful spells at Donaghcloney, Dunmurry, and Muckamore, where he has spent the last six seasons.

He was a major contributor with both bat and ball to the success enjoyed by Muckamore in the last couple of campaigns when they have picked up an array of trophies, culminating in the Ulster Bank Section 1 title last season, when he scored 583 runs and took 36 wickets.

Top-order batsman Holmes will be returning for a fourth season in Northern Ireland, despite still being only 21 years old. He spent two previous seasons with Carrick in 2010 and 2011, scoring a total of 1,200 runs, as well as taking 29 wickets with his leg-spin. Now, after a season with Lurgan, he has decided to return to the East Antrim club.

Both players will also be heavily involved in the Carrick’s coaching programme. Kamtekar will take responsibility for adult practice sessions and individual coaching with Carrick’s most promising young players. Holmes has been appointed as Youth Development Coach and will be in overall charge of the youth teams, as well as carrying out the club’s extensive coaching programme in local schools.

After nine seasons at the top level of NCU cricket, Carrick were relegated in 2012.

Now they will be hoping their two new signings will help them improve on last season’s mid-table position in Section 1, and maybe a push for promotion back to the top-flight.