Yorkshire batsman Andrew Gale is returning to the JCT600 Bradford League next season with Cleckheaton.

The 25-year-old left-hander was with the Moorend club until the end of the 2005 season and has spent the last three seasons with Driffield in the Yorkshire League.

Cleckheaton’s cricket chairman Dave Worrall said: “We don’t know how often Andrew will play for us because of his Yorkshire commitments but whenever he does it will be a bonus because we are getting the best batsman in the Bradford League.

“He is a class act and I can remember him playing his first first-team game for us at Lidget Green when he was 15.

“He went in at No 4 against Rana Naved ul-Hasan and took him to the cleaners.”

Aggressive batsman Gale, who won the Stafford Heginbotham Tebro Trophy in 2005 for the highest batting aggregate in the league (1,107 runs when he came third in the averages) has said he prefers to bat in the middle order for Yorkshire.

However, skipper John Wood permitting of course, it is likely that Gale will open the batting for Cleckheaton, who fought off competition for his signature.

Worrall added: “Andrew was down at the club last night and met the rest of the players.

“He is held in high regard at Cleckheaton, his family like the club and it is great to have him back. It is a big season for him coming up at Yorkshire but I feel that Andrew has it in him to go beyond playing for Yorkshire.”

Former Heckmondwike Grammar School pupil Gale apart, Cleckheaton have also signed opening bat and spinner Mark Cummins from Esholt.

They will also be changing their overseas player. Worrall added: “Louis Aspeling is unavailable due to work commitments and we hope to sign a young Pakistani to bat at No 4.

“Also Rhys Jowett is being promoted to the first team next season and John Wood will be opening the bowling with Ian Wardlaw.

“It is going to be an interesting season but we are safe from the credit crunch thanks to what I believe is probably the hardest-working committee in the league.”