GREENOCK Cricket Club have announced the signing of 22-year-old Dwight Thomas from St Lucia as their second overseas amateur for the new season.

Thomas is a talented top order batsman and handy off spinner who has progressed through the St Lucia and Windward Islands ranks and is now pushing for first-class inclusion.

He has represented his country through the age groups, skippering both under-15 and under-19 sides, topping the run charts en-route to gaining St Lucia’s young Most Valuable Player award in 2011.

Thomas, who has also played for the Windward Islands through each age group, broke into the national St Lucian senior team in 2010 and has since averaged 35.25 with the bat, whilst also picking up wickets with his useful off-breaks.

He is regarded as one of the best fielders in his country and someone with obvious leadership skills.

In summer 2013, the young West Indian had a successful season in Lincolnshire in England, scoring 955 runs.

Thomas follows in the footsteps of West Indian test cricketing great Gordon Greenidge, who was professional with Greenock in 1990 and 92, and he is keen to show the club’s supporters that he is a player who can live up to the highest level of West Indian cricketing traditions.

Thomas will join opening pace bowler Tom Batters from Melbourne, Australia, who is returning to Glenpark for a second season.

Both players will arrive in mid-April in time for the start of competitive matches.

Greenock CC was assisted in the signing of both players by the Cricx agency.