CHURCH Cricket Club have signed talented Queenslander Matthew Mott as their professional this summer.

The 21-year-old left-handed batsman, who bowls right-arm medium, has developed through the classic Australian route, the Australian Institute of Sport in Adelaide.

And he arrives with a huge recommendation from former Australian great Rodney Marsh.

"He is solid in all aspects of his game and is a tremendous prospect for the future," said Marsh.

Mott's highest knock for Queensland under 19s was 222 out of a total of 351 for nine. In 1993 he played for Porthill in the North Staffordshire League, recording 1100 runs at an average of 108 and taking 37 wickets at 18 apiece.

That winter he toured South Africa with the Queensland Academy and made his first class debut for Queensland in November '94.

He has broken the batting record for the Australian Cricket Academy with more than 1000 runs and captained the Academy side on a tour of Pakistan.

"He is one of the youngest if not the youngest professional we've ever had at Church and we're delighted to have signed him," said Church secretary Tony Marsden.

"He is a traditional, hungry fighter and coming with something to prove."

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