Last year he was representing Barbados alongside West Indies internationals – this year he will be playing for Carlisle Cricket Club.

Justin Greaves’ sporting career path from the Caribbean to Carlisle has been a far from conventional one.

But the all-rounder has decided to swap life at home for a summer in England as an overseas player - and not for the first time.

Indeed, the Barbadian has played for three English teams already at the age of 22, one of them being Carlisle where he will return for a second spell.

Greaves made a big impression at the club first time around in 2015, scoring just shy of 1,000 runs and taking more than 50 wickets in the North Lancs & Cumbria League.

And club secretary Mark Davidson was among the Carlisle officials happy to see Greaves return.

“The club are absolutely delighted that Justin Greaves from Barbados will be returning to Carlisle for the 2017 season,” he says.

“Justin was outstanding with bat and ball in 2015, scoring 915 league runs at an average of 65.36 and taking 55 league wickets at 11.76.

“Things have changed both on and off the field at Edenside since 2015 when he was last here but he’ll fit in well with our outstanding playing and coaching staff.

“The coaching and progression of juniors is a major priority at Carlisle and Justin will play a key role in this over the summer months.

“Justin’s flair and ability are just what we require, an outstanding all-round cricketer who performs with bat and ball.”

Carlisle are celebrating their 125th anniversary and the news of Greaves’ return will come as a big lift for the club ahead of an important year.

Davidson adds: “The announcement of Greaves’ return to Edenside is a major boost, ahead of pre-season training.

“It is a big year for Carlisle Cricket Club as we celebrate 125 years of cricket at Edenside and we have our anniversary dinner on March 25 with guest speaker, former England cricketer and selector Geoff Miller.”

Last year’s overseas Alex Calmy, from Perth, was one of the club’s successes in their title-winning campaign last summer.

It was initially hoped Calmy would be able to come back for the 2017 campaign.

But when it became clear that wasn’t going to happen, Greaves became the club’s number one target.

“I’m just delighted to get Justin’s signature sorted,” says first-team captain Marc Brown, who led Carlisle’s search for this season’s overseas player.

“Justin was always my number one target.

“He’s a top order batter, a real threat with the ball and a great fielder.

“I really think this is an exciting move, a real statement of intent. Justin will bring balance and quality to our line-up.

“We have so many good young players and we want to do as well as we can back in the North Lancs & Cumbria Premier League.

"Justin will help our young lads as well as give the club the performances it needs from a professional.”

Before he moved into senior cricket, Greaves played for West Indies at the 2012 Under-19 World Cup.

At the tournament – where West Indies were captained by Kraigg Brathwaite, one of a number of notable alumni from Barbados’ Combermere School, with others including singer Rihanna, England all-rounder Chris Jordan and the West Indies’ first black captain Sir Frank Worrell – West Indies finished sixth.

England’s young team, which included Kent’s Daniel Bell-Drummond and Adam Ball as well as bowler Reece Topley and Ben Duckett, finished in fifth at the World Cup, beating Windies by 13 runs in the fifth place play-off.

Greaves took eight wickets in the competition, including 3-38 against England, and chipped in with 39 runs as well.

Meanwhile in the last year, playing for Barbados, Greaves has regularly played at grounds like Queen’s Park Oval and Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica.

He had been opening the bowling alongside fast bowler Kemar Roach, who has played for West Indies at Test, One-Day International and T20 level.

In a drawn four-day match against Guyana in December, former West Indies captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul played for the opposition.

Chanderpaul struck a century in the first innings of the match, while Greaves chipped in with 20 with the bat in the first innings and took one wicket in the second innings.

Arguably, Greaves’ best bowling figures of the year came in a six-wicket win over Jamaica in February.

He took 5-41 inside 16 overs, including the scalp of Nikita Miller who scored 264 runs and took 41 wickets in 46 ODI matches for West Indies, but was dismissed by slow bowler Miller on 14 when it was Greaves’ turn to bat.

Greaves also played alongside the likes of Miguel Cummins, all-rounder Dwayne Smith, Sulieman Benn and bowler Tino Best who became famous in 2004 after his “sledging” match with Andrew Flintoff.

Sefton Park Cricket Club in Liverpool and Frinton On Sea Cricket Club, who play in the East Anglian Premier Cricket League, are the two other clubs in England Greaves has played for.

Carlisle have also confirmed senior and junior pre-season training will start at Harraby Sports Centre on February 26.

Meanwhile, the AGM will also be held next month.