Malachi Jones moving to Warwick Workmen’s Club and Bailey’s Bay trio Rodney Trott, Sinclair Smith and Zeko Burgess heading east to St George’s, the T20 champions, are among the notable transfers confirmed by the Bermuda Cricket Board yesterday.

Just 18 players obtained transfers ahead of the new season, but there were some interesting moves, with Jones, a national team and Somerset Cup Match player, the ideal replacement for Dominic Sabir, who has obtained a move to Somerset Cricket Club in a bid to further his aspirations.

The Jones move will have shocked Rangers as he was their captain last season in the shortened season which involved T20 cricket.

“It started when I was in Antigua and had a general conversation with Lorenzo Tucker, the national team analyst,” Jones said.

Jones is relishing the new challenge of joining Warwick, one of the younger teams in league cricket.

They gained promotion in the T20 competition last season but will play in the First Division of the 50-overs competition.

“It’s a chance to help bring a couple of youngsters along,” Jones added.

“We still have to have that final meeting, so we’ll hash everything out later in the month.

“A few people are upset but my nana, my No 1 supporter, seems all right with it.

“It will definitely be a different challenge as it will be my first season playing First Division 50 overs.

“At least I’ll get to play in the Premier Division in the T20.”

Lorenzo Tucker, the Warwick head coach, is excited to have Jones with the team this summer, a move that makes up for the void left by Sabir’s departure.

“Picking up Malachi is huge, considering the fact we lost Dominic Sabir who had a fantastic season,” Tucker said. “We knew we had to replace 552 runs and 14 wickets.

“Dominic came through our youth programme, playing in our under-13s and under-15s and is starting to come into his own. “He has big dreams and big aspirations and decided to move on to attain his goals and we wish him the best.”

Tucker added: “I spoke to Malachi when we were in Antigua with the national team and he expressed interest in coming out and helping the guys out. His cricket ability speaks for itself.

“We have a very young team and I felt that his performances on the field in batting, bowling and fielding, and his knowledge of setting fields, will help our skipper out.

“It’s just a win-win all around for us. We’re looking forward to the season, for sure.”

Another player leaving Warwick is Clay Darrell who has rejoined Cleveland County.

The other big news is the departure of the three Bay players to St George’s, with Sinclair Smith and Zeko Burgess returning to their former club and are joined by Trott, a former Bay captain.

St George’s won last season’s T20 competition and have Clay Smith back as head coach.

Brian Hall has left St David’s to return to Western Stars, with veteran bowler Kevin Hurdle also moving from St David’s to rejoin Flatts. Deunte Darrell has rejoined Willow Cuts from Southampton Rangers.

Rangers picked up four players during the transfer period, Christof van Tonder from Flatts, Cory Tucker-Smith and Demar Johnson from Devonshire Rec and Dalin Richardson from Somerset.

Lamont Brangman moved from Southampton Rangers to Devonshire Rec and Oyinde Bascome from St George’s to the Rec.