Carters’ career is taking off

Ryan Carters

ROYTON will have to play the rest of the Lake Garage CLL season without an overseas amateur.

Ryan Carters, their Australian wicketkeeper and batsman, has returned home to take up a rookie contract with Victoria.

The elevation to State cricket for the Victoria Bushrangers is a significant development in the 19-year-old’s career.

The Victoria squad contains Cricket Australia contract holders Brad Hodge, David Hussey and Cameron White, along with Peter Siddle - currently facing England in the Ashes series - and all-rounder Andrew McDonald, who is in the Test squad.

Also in the Victoria squad for the new State cricket season, which starts later this month, is star West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo.

Carters, the Australia under-19 wicketkeeper last season, will be hoping to follow the example of other rookies who have earned Cricket Victoria contracts.

He is rated among the most promising young glovemen in Australia and certainly impressed cricket watchers during his time at the Paddock.

Royton skipper Barry Woodward said: “He had always been very good behind the stumps and his batting was improving, too.

“We were looking forward to him scoring some runs for us in the last eight or nine games, but we will just have to manage without him.”

Simon Webb, who has donned the wicketkeepr’s gloves before, will be behind the sticks for Saturday’s home game against Unsworth.

Woodward also had news of professional Luke Procter.

“Luke has been offered a deal for next season and he is considering it,” said Woodward.

“We are confident he will sign.”