DAVID CUFFLEY Paul Bradshaw has been reappointed as Norfolk cricket captain for the 2007 season.And former Kent and Leicestershire batsman Trevor Ward will play as a professional for the fourth year running.

DAVID CUFFLEY

Paul Bradshaw has been reappointed as Norfolk cricket captain for the 2007 season.

And former Kent and Leicestershire batsman Trevor Ward will play as a professional for the fourth year running.

Members were given the news by county cricket club chairman Keith Bray at the annual meeting at Manor Park on Saturday.

All-rounder Bradshaw, 28, missed most of last season with a persistent hamstring injury. Vice-captain Carl Rogers led Norfolk to three Minor Counties Championship victories in his absence as they finished fourth in the Eastern Division table.

But Bradshaw, confident he has recovered from the injury, will be back at the helm next season with Rogers as his right-hand man and off-spinner and Level 3 coach Chris Brown set to take a more active role in coaching the side.

Bradshaw said of his own fitness: “It's pretty good. I've played football since September and finished the season playing cricket for my club and, touch wood, it's been okay so far. It's a different thing, perhaps, bowling flat out, but at the moment I'm confident that it's healed properly.”

He welcomed the return of 38-year-old Ward, who has played 13 championship games for Norfolk since 2004 and averaged just over 30 with the bat.

Said Bradshaw: “Trevor contributes a great deal in the dressing room and though, by his own admission, was not contributing the runs last season, he has the potential to contribute big runs next year. He's up for it and I'm sure he will prove his worth.”

Norfolk are planning a pre-season trip to Jersey before their first warm-up match against Essex II at Bishop's Stortford on Saturday, April 21.

A reshuffle at executive committee level was approved, with former opening bowler Ted Wright succeeding David Armstrong as president, Paul Borrett replacing Bray as chairman of selectors, David Browne succeeding Borrett as county vice-chairman and Graham Littlewood taking over Browne's role in charge of promotions and sponsorship.

Wright, who played 72 times for Norfolk between 1969 and 1982, told members: “Norfolk is a great club with a wonderful history and I'm very mindful of the people I follow in this position.

“Playing for Norfolk was the single most important thing in my life and wearing this tie is like my Olympic gold medal.”

Treasurer Terry Moore reported a profit of £6,314 on the 2006 season, compared to a surplus of £1,868 in 2005. The main reason, he said, was a reduction of more than £9,000 in travel and hotel bills because of fewer away matches.

Promotional activities made a profit of £12,090, but cricket activities showed a loss of £2,408.

Biggest income was from the annual Minor Counties Cricket Association grant of £24,700, members' subscriptions of £13,455, and £8,000 in sponsorship from Clydesdale Bank.

Rogers was named Clydesdale Bank Norfolk Player of the Season after leading the side and scoring 618 championship runs at 77.25. Wicket-keeper Luke Newton won the D L King Memorial Young Player Shield for the second time.

Honorary life membership was conferred on retiring president Armstrong and on Devon-based member Mrs Paddy Richards, who was finally revealed as the “anonymous donor” responsible for major items of spending through the Norfolk Cricket Supporters' Appeal, such as the special flight that took the team to Northumberland for a one-day semi-final in 2005.

Officers appointed - president, Ted Wright; chairman, Keith Bray; vice-chairman, David Browne; treasurer, Terry Moore; secretary, Stephen Skinner; committee chairmen, Paul Borrett (cricket and selection), Ted Searle (membership and home matches), Graham Littlewood (promotions, sponsorship and development); captain, Paul Bradshaw; auditors, Lovewell Blake; honorary life members, David Armstrong, Mrs Paddy Richards.