South African spin sensation Imran Tahir took time out from terrorising batting line-ups in county cricket to help Alder Cricket Club officially open their new pavilion.
Tahir, one of the most highly rated leg spinners in world cricket today, made the trip up from Hampshire where he is currently playing as an overseas professional, to help the West Derby side celebrate the unveiling of their new pitchside changing facility.
The Proteas bowler performed a ribbon cutting with Alder club captain Muhammad Masroor and Chairman Ian McKay before giving some of the club's young talents an expert spinning masterclass.
Tahir, one of the stand out performers in South Africa's World Cup campaign last year, has built up a close relationship with the Alder Road club, ever since Masroor, a close friend, signed as club professional some seven years ago.
Since then the former NALGO has endured a renaissance under Masroor's leadership, securing successive promotions from the Merseyside Competition and into the second tier of the Liverpool and District Competition.
Tahir, who's vicious leg breaks see him take One Day International wickets at an impressive ten runs a piece, said he is not surprised to see hear of the progress at the club after seeing first hand the talent of the calibre of youngsters on show.
He said: "I've come to Alder before to help Masroor with fund raising and coaching the youngsters and I'm not surprised to see how well they're doing.
"The facilities are obviously a work in progress but the ground itself looks beautiful, the wicket is in great shape and, most importantly, the people are really great here, that's what makes it a fantastic cricket club.
"There is some good young talent here too and you can see that they're being coached the right way.
"They have a top class coach in Mas, his record speaks for itself in Pakistan and I know having played with him how much of a good influence he has on young cricketers.
"I'm especially impressed by the young spinners that are here, leg spin is one of the toughest skills in cricket and sometimes youngsters don't stick with it because of that.
"I have been told about young Ben Forshaw who has earned a place in the first team bowling leg breaks at the age of just 13, I was watching him bowl today and I can see why Mas rates him so highly, he has real potential.
"What I've been doing is showing them some new deliveries, which obviously they won't be able to bowl straight away, but they can practice in time and hopefully, when they get better, will give them more tools to get batsmen out with.
"I'm really happy to have been able to visit again, and I'm glad to hear of the club's success."
Captain Masroor said he hoped that Tahir's visit, along with the opening of the new pavilion, can lead to a feel good factor around the club ahead of their weekend home clash with high flyers Wallasey.
He said: "It's great for Immy to come down and lend his support again. He's real inspiration to some of the youngsters around here after visiting in the past few seasons. They've been cueing up all evening to get their bats signed and get photos, he's been really generous with his time.
"Hopefully we can take some of the momentum from last weeks' win at Prestatyn and the positivity which has surrounded Immy's visit and the new pavilion and put in a good performance on Saturday.
"We've been spoken about as relegation candidates all year but we've just leap-frogged a couple of big teams and I'm sure we're only a few wins away from cementing our place in the league.
"If we can establish ourselves now, with the current crop of youngsters looking as good as it does, the sky is the limit here. We really are that ambitious."
The members at Alder may have split loyalties when Tahir next returns to the city, he is likely to be in the Hampshire side who face Lancashire in their last game of the season at Liverpool on September 7.
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