President of the Wanderers Club Peter Short made the announcement yesterday.
Short told NATIONSPORT that he had been told by sports broadcaster Reds Perriera that Lambert was interested in playing cricket in Barbados to keep in shape for upcoming regional and international engagements.
The regional limited-overs competition, the Red Stripe Bowl, is expected to take place in September/October. Lambert is also considered a certainty for the West Indies tour of South Africa starting in November.
Each club in the BCA is allowed one guest player and Wanderers have used this rule before to engage three South Africans and a Vincentian cricketer.
Dale Benkenstein (1994), Wendell Bossenger (1995) and Phil Hearle (1997) were the South African players while Dennis Bryan of St. Vincent and The Grenadines played in 1996. Windward Islands batsman John Eugene played for Spartan a few years ago and Jamaican Wavell Hinds for Carlton last year.
Short said that Lambert, who made a sensational return to Test cricket this year, would be a major boost to the “thin” Wanderers batting line-up which would be missing stalwart Mark Sealy for several matches.
Sealy, the national squash champion, is expected to represent Barbados at the Commonwealth Games in Malaysia.
“Lambert had an offer for a contract in New York but I was able to contact him and convince him to play for the Cockspur Wanderers cricket club,” Short said.
The 36-year-old batsman, however, will not be here for the start of this weekend’s second series match against Caribbean Home Insurance Schools South at Lodge because of a relative’s wedding in New York. But he will be here for the second day and a place will be left open for him.
As well as boosting the batting, Lambert will be coaching both the senior and junior members of the club. Captain Michael Edwards is said to be thrilled at the news which follows his team’s victory over BCL in the opening match.
Lambert will play for at least three series and any further appearances in Barbados will depend on the timing of the Red Stripe Bowl.