David Banks believes his Sarisbury Athletic team will be well suited to the change in format as the Southern Electric Premier Division makes the switch to time games this weekend.
The longer version of the one-day game has become a thorny subject for many clubs in the top flight in recent times, writes Steve Wilson of the Portsmouth News.
Instead of a straight 50 overs per side contest, the matches consist of 120 overs with the side batting first having the option to bat for as many as 64.
While it introduces a new tactical element to the games, there is also a prospect of drawn games which some feel promotes a more negative brand of cricket.
The fact matches can now run from 11.30am to 7.30pm also ensures plenty of players can no longer play in the top division because of other commitments.
But the Sarisbury skipper is looking forward to the different proposition after the club’s promotion last season.
Banks said: ‘I’ve got no issue with playing it. I would probably prefer to play overs cricket win or lose but we will just get on with it.
‘I think we will be strong in timed cricket. ‘We’ve got some class bowlers and having a good spinner in Ryan Burl, who will be able to bowl as many overs as he wants. ‘It will suit us and I don’t see it being a problem.
‘Sometimes it can promote negative cricket but I will never go into a game thinking about playing out a draw. ‘We will try to win every game possible and play as positively as we can.
‘If you are eight or nine wickets down chasing a big score with a few overs left, then you might take a draw. ‘But we will never go out and play negatively. ‘Not every team thinks that way and it’s a shame. ‘Maybe that’s why some people have got a bit fed up with time games.’
Those principles will be put to the test as Sarisbury Athletic host South Wilts, who battered Havant last week to cement their place at the top of the table.
Zimbabwean Ryan Burl, whose pinch-hit style left-hand batting and leg spin bowling helped South Wilts win their last two titles, is relishing the opportunity of playing against his former team-mates.
“They are a really strong and competitive side, so it doesn’t matter who is playing against them: they’re still going to try and go out and perform the best they can.
“They have been a really strong side over the past few years and this year in particular I feel with their few additions they have added some strength to it.”
Despite the pounding Sarisbury took at the Green Jackets Ground last week, Burl is backing his team-mates to do well at Allotment Road tomorrow, 11.30.
“Sarisbury have got a lot of experienced players so I feel no matter what the format they will step up.
“It is something special for the club to be playing at this level so we will be looking to start off well,” he added.
So, what went wrong against St Cross Symondians ?
“Right from the first over we were on the back foot and Adam Rouse and the New Zealander, Michael Pollard took the game away from us.
“Losing wickets at regular intervals didn’t help our chase at all, although Ricky Rawlins played a fantastic knock.
“But against South Wilts we are going to have tighten up our areas and be more disciplined.”
South Wilts, who have won all five matches, are back to full strength though Steve Riddle and Steve Warner, while Matt Journeaux returns for Sarisbury.
Sarisbury Athletic: Banks, Rawlins, Norris, Covey, Burl, Jack Lovett, Geyle, Miller, Journeaux, Goldstraw, Jewell.
South Wilts: Morton, Abel, Terry, Hayward, Riddle, Cranch, Hibberd, Duffield, Foley, Franklin, Warner.
The longer version of the one-day game has become a thorny subject for many clubs in the top flight in recent times, writes Steve Wilson of the Portsmouth News.
Instead of a straight 50 overs per side contest, the matches consist of 120 overs with the side batting first having the option to bat for as many as 64.
While it introduces a new tactical element to the games, there is also a prospect of drawn games which some feel promotes a more negative brand of cricket.
The fact matches can now run from 11.30am to 7.30pm also ensures plenty of players can no longer play in the top division because of other commitments.
But the Sarisbury skipper is looking forward to the different proposition after the club’s promotion last season.
Banks said: ‘I’ve got no issue with playing it. I would probably prefer to play overs cricket win or lose but we will just get on with it.
‘I think we will be strong in timed cricket. ‘We’ve got some class bowlers and having a good spinner in Ryan Burl, who will be able to bowl as many overs as he wants. ‘It will suit us and I don’t see it being a problem.
‘Sometimes it can promote negative cricket but I will never go into a game thinking about playing out a draw. ‘We will try to win every game possible and play as positively as we can.
‘If you are eight or nine wickets down chasing a big score with a few overs left, then you might take a draw. ‘But we will never go out and play negatively. ‘Not every team thinks that way and it’s a shame. ‘Maybe that’s why some people have got a bit fed up with time games.’
Those principles will be put to the test as Sarisbury Athletic host South Wilts, who battered Havant last week to cement their place at the top of the table.
Zimbabwean Ryan Burl, whose pinch-hit style left-hand batting and leg spin bowling helped South Wilts win their last two titles, is relishing the opportunity of playing against his former team-mates.
“They are a really strong and competitive side, so it doesn’t matter who is playing against them: they’re still going to try and go out and perform the best they can.
“They have been a really strong side over the past few years and this year in particular I feel with their few additions they have added some strength to it.”
Despite the pounding Sarisbury took at the Green Jackets Ground last week, Burl is backing his team-mates to do well at Allotment Road tomorrow, 11.30.
“Sarisbury have got a lot of experienced players so I feel no matter what the format they will step up.
“It is something special for the club to be playing at this level so we will be looking to start off well,” he added.
So, what went wrong against St Cross Symondians ?
“Right from the first over we were on the back foot and Adam Rouse and the New Zealander, Michael Pollard took the game away from us.
“Losing wickets at regular intervals didn’t help our chase at all, although Ricky Rawlins played a fantastic knock.
“But against South Wilts we are going to have tighten up our areas and be more disciplined.”
South Wilts, who have won all five matches, are back to full strength though Steve Riddle and Steve Warner, while Matt Journeaux returns for Sarisbury.
Sarisbury Athletic: Banks, Rawlins, Norris, Covey, Burl, Jack Lovett, Geyle, Miller, Journeaux, Goldstraw, Jewell.
South Wilts: Morton, Abel, Terry, Hayward, Riddle, Cranch, Hibberd, Duffield, Foley, Franklin, Warner.