KEITH Arnold, the record-breaking Oxfordshire cricketer, has joined Clive Ricks’s crusade against the MP Sports Cherwell League rebels.

The ex-Oxon skipper, who went into the county’s record books with 682 wickets before announcing his retirement last June, has expressed his support for Ricks’s re-election after a vote of no confidence was passed in the new chairman.

The Banbury Twenty seamer is one of the most respected cricketing figures in Oxfordshire And his recruitment will be seen as a major coup for Ricks’s hopes of beating the gang of eight rebel executive members at the forthcoming extraordinary general meeting.

Arnold said: “I attended one of Clive’s rules consultations and thought it was an excellent way of connecting with players and officials.

“It is good that someone who puts the interests of the clubs at the heart of his agenda holds this key post.

“I look forward to working with Ricksy rather than bowling with him!”

Ricks said: “I am obviously delighted that someone of Keith’s stature and reputation is on board.

“He is someone who has spent many years gracing the Cherwell League, and he is ideally placed to appreciate its strengths and weaknesses.

“My aim to recruit executive members who are currently playing, umpiring or administering clubs in the Cherwell League could not have got off to a better start.”

Ricks also indicated he would be writing to clubs soon with further potential executive members, and outlining his plans for the coming season.