Exciting all-rounder joins Hyde ahead of new season

Hyde Cricket Club have signed all-rounder Ryan O’Brien from Urmston in their quest for a long-awaited Cheshire County Cricket League championship.

After falling agonisingly short on the final day of the 2024 season when rain scuppered a near-certain title, Hyde hope O’Brien’s versatility will bring the league trophy back to Werneth Low for the first time in ten years. 

The right arm medium-fast bowler took 26 wickets in Division One last season, where he led from the front in captaining Urmston to survival, averaging 45 in the top order on his way to 725 runs in all competitions. 

“I’m absolutely delighted to start my new cricketing journey at Hyde,” O’Brien said. “It’s a club I’ve grown up looking at as a club that the best players play for, so it’s very exciting for me to be joining.  

“I’m looking forward to the new challenge ahead, hopefully performing at the level I want to and showing everyone what I can do with both bat and ball.” 

The 24-year-old is busy doing just that down under, where he has racked up 500 runs and 13 wickets this season for Parkdale CC in Melbourne. 

It is his second spell in Australia, having ventured out to Brunswick CC as a teenager.  

He also played for Wilmslow-based Lindow CC prior to becoming Urmston’s pro in 2023. 

Meanwhile, Hyde captain Tom Partridge said of his new signing: “I’m happy Ryan has decided to join Hyde, a great move for both him and us, he is the perfect profile of player we were looking to bring in to continue to compete at the top of the Premier League. 

“He will bolster the already strong squad massively with both bat and ball.  

“His experience and age are a perfect fit for Hyde and I’m sure he will fit in perfectly. 

“I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do for us this year.”