Bowlers around the county and beyond will be heaving a huge sigh of relief in the knowledge that batting sensation Tom Kelly will be playing his last game of the season for Dumbleton on Saturday.

The 23-year-old South Australian will be heading back Down Under after the club’s West of England Premier League Premier 2 Glos/Wilts clash at home to Hatherley and Reddings having made a huge impression in his short time as their overseas player.

“He’s a proper cricketer,” said Dumbleton chairman David Smith. “When he hits a cricket ball it stays hit, he’s as strong as an ox.

“He’s very good, he’s the best overseas batter we’ve had by a big margin.”

Kelly's figures tell their own story. He’s scored three centuries in Premier 2 Glos/Wilts – including 112 against Cheltenham back in May – to help Dumbleton lead the chasing pack in the 10-strong division behind runaway leaders Thornbury.

His form in the Cheltenham Premier T20 has been even more eye-catching with four centuries in just eight games, including a masterful unbeaten 110 in the final as they beat Hatherley Hurricanes by seven runs at the Victoria Ground last month.

Hatherley and Dumbleton have been regular opponents this season. They’ve met three times in the Cheltenham Premier T20, with Dumbleton winning the last two, while Dumbleton also won their Premier 2 Glos/Wilts clash at North Park at the start of June.

Clearly Kelly, who has played four-day Sheffield Shield cricket for South Australia and T20 for Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash, will want to sign off in style at the weekend.

It's also very clear that Dumbleton would welcome him back next season although Smith admitted that nothing has yet been decided.

“It depends on his pro contract,” he said. “We’d have him back if he’s available, he’s an all-round good bloke.”

It’s going to be a very busy weekend for Dumbleton on the back of what has been a very busy few days because they are currently enjoying their Cricket Week.

On Sunday they host South Lancashire club Woodhouses, where ex-England captain Mike Atherton played as a youngster, in the semi-finals of the National Village Cup.

The final will be at Lord’s on Sunday 15^th September, a ground Dumbleton know well having won the competition at the home of English cricket a couple of years ago.

In the other semi-final, Cornwall’s Grampound Road, four-run winners over Painswick in the previous round, will entertain Cambridgeshire’s Foxton Granta.