The success of their last two overseas players has convinced Downham Town to head Down Under again in search of cricketing brilliance.

Eastern Daily Press: Downham Town's new signing, David Paterson. Picture: CricX - The Cricket Exchange Agency.Downham Town's new signing, David Paterson. Picture: CricX - The Cricket Exchange Agency. (Image: Archant)

The Norfolk Alliance Premier Division outfit have signed their third Sydney Grade player on the bounce in the form of Western Suburbs batsman David Paterson. The 22-year-old will follow in the footsteps of last summer's first grade player of the year in Australian Harry Evans – who played for Town in 2012 – and West's team-mate Brenton Wright who starred during Downham's second-placed finish last term.

Captain Duncan Lanchester said: 'Harry was a really good signing and we all know what Brenton did last summer.

A lot of players, such as Simon Katich (former Australian international), have played or do play in the first grade of the Sydney Grade set-up. It's obviously a pretty good standard.

'We spoke to Brenton about David, and a few other Aussies, and they said he likes to build an innings. Last season we kept being 50 for five or six, so we've moved for someone who can come and bat in our top three and who is a really solid player. We're told he's bright as a button, is close to completing his law degree, and has a great attitude when it comes to the game like Harry and Brenton did.'

The batsman will have some big boots to fill following the success of his fellow countrymen in West Norfolk. Evans scored 705 runs at an average of 54.23 and took 31 wickets while Wright was the Alliance's leading wicket taker (57 at an average of 14.47) last term as well as chipping in with a more than decent 558 runs.

'David doesn't bowl much as far as we know,' said Lanchester. 'But he's been spinning it in the nets and is working hard on that side of his cricket. If anyone can bowl spin and get it to turn in our league they'll take wickets. If not we might have to look elsewhere for a spin bowler.'

Paterson, who attended the same high school as well-known Aussies Mitchell Starc and Phil Hughes, has worked his way up through the country's set-up and heads for his maiden stint abroad next year as a first-grade opener.

'I'm pleased we've got our overseas player sorted early,' added Lanchester, who once again used Steven Hirst's Cricket Exchange Agency (CricX) to seal the deal.

'After Christmas all hell breaks loose and all sorts of money is chucked about. But now we can just worry about looking to get local players in to add to our first, second and third-team squads.'