BARNSLEY Woolley Miners CC have committed even further to youth development for the forthcoming season, with a series of experienced players moving on and a focus on promoting young talent from within the club.
The Shaw Laners have had a young team for many years but may have their youngest ever in the 2025 season which begins in April.
Boeta Beukes has been promoted to first team captain, having skippered the second XI last season, and replaces the departed Liam Johnson.
The 24-year-old from Mapplewell is a sports coach and also does sports massage, including at Barnsley Football Club. He came through the Shaw Lane youth system and has played 66 first team games.
He said: “I’m really proud.
“I have been at the club since I was about 12.
“It’s a great achievement to be first team captain.
“I have gone from the fourth team all the way to the first team.”
Barnsley have lost their two long-serving spin bowlers Ali Jahangir and Oliver Jackson, as well as young batter Sheryaar Ali and fast bowler Adam Copley who took 56 wickets last season. All five of their top wicket-takers from last season have departed.
The Shaw Laners are looking for a new batter and fast bowler but are also giving more chances this season to their homegrown players and relying on talents such as Yorkshire CCC Academy duo Owen Smith and Harvey Round.
Beukes said: “There has been a fair bit of change. A lot of experienced players have left. It will be a different team than usual, and a lot younger.
“We’re trying to develop young players. We have good talent and we will be looking at that.
“Oliver has moved to Australia and Ali moved on for a different challenge.
“They both did very well for the club but we have the talent to replace them.”
The new overseas player is South African Sean Whitehead, a bowling all-rounder who bowls left-arm spin.
The 27-year-old has played 67 professional games across all three formats for Free State, scoring two First Class centuries and taking 131 wickets.
Whitehead, who represented his country at under 19 level, took ten wickets in an innings in 2022 – the second best figures ever in South African First Class cricket history.
Beukes said: “He will be a good addition.
“He will give us a different approach in the spin bowling.
“Hopefully he can get us a lot of wickets and runs.”
They have also brought in off-spinner Joe Simpkin from Hollinshead Methodist CC.
Last season, Barnsley were in a relegation battle for most of the year but a strong finish meant they ended seventh in the ECB Premier Division – 25 points clear of the drop zone.
Beukes said: “We will be looking to have a better start than last season.
“It’s not nice trying to say up, and fighting all the time. We will be looking for the top half, maybe even top four.
“Anything can happen.”
