Shrewsbury have strengthened their squad ahead of the Birmingham & District Cricket League season getting under way by signing promising Australian batsman Tim Ward.

The 19-year-old, from Sydney, goes straight into the side for Saturday’s Graham Williamson Trophy second round tie at West Bromwich Dartmouth after Shrewsbury beat Kenilworth Wardens by four wickets in their opening game of the season last weekend.

Shrewsbury, under new captain Ben Stebbings, will begin their Birmingham League premier division campaign at home to Barnt Green on April 29.

Ward is a left-handed top order batsman who plays for Parramatta in the strong New South Wales Premier League. This will be his first experience of playing in England.

Ed Foster, Shrewsbury's vice-chairman and experienced batsman, said: “Tim's coach at Parramatta was the captain of the Cambridge Granta side we beat in the National KO final a few years ago, so when the opportunity came up for Tim to play for us the coach was quite happy to let him come our way having seen at first hand that we’re a decent club.

"Tim is essentially a young guy looking to come over and play some cricket and improve his game.

"He played half the season in Parramatta’s first grade team and half the season in their second grade team.

"He scored a double hundred for their second grade team at one point, so that pushed him into first grade status.”

Foster added: “Tim comes over with no expectation really from our side of things. It’s similar to the guys from Australia that have joined us in years gone by.

"We have an opportunity for somebody to come and play at Shrewsbury and Tim has taken it this year - we hope that he does very well for us.”

Ward and leg spinner Jimmy Hulton-Harrop replace Lewis Evans and Tyler Ibbotson from the side which beat Kenilworth Wardens for Saturday’s Trophy trip to West Bromwich Dartmouth.

Shrewsbury (v West Bromwich Dartmouth): Will Parton, Henry Blofield, Ed Foster, Ben Stebbings (captain), Tim Ward, Rob Foster, Llyr Thomas, Matt Swift, Jimmy Hulton-Harrop, Mike Barnard, Sam Griffiths.