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​Former Hampshire Academy seamer Oli Cordery is about as far from Winchester as you can get right now, bowling in the fierce Aussie heat in Tamworth, New South Wales in Aussie grade cricket.  
Little wonder he’s making the most of it.  By the time he’s lining up for St Cross Symondians in this season’s Southern Premier Cricket League (SPCL) in April, he’ll be getting soaked like the rest of us, writes Richard Edwards.  
Cordery, 19, was released by Hampshire at the end of last season after three years in the Academy, one of which culminated in a championship winners medal.  
But there’s not a shred of bitterness or disappointment. In fact, you get the sense that he’s exactly where he wants to be.  
“I’m loving it so far,” he says. “We’re here until April 1. It’s just a good chance to play, enjoy cricket and see where I’m at.” 
Tamworth isn’t a coastal paradise - “It’s about three hours from the sea, a bit like Birmingham” he laughs - but it has been good to him since he touched down (alongside Bashley Rydal spin all-rounder Zack Basey) in October.  
And he’s not only developing his cricket skills in this corner of Australia, he’s also honing his skills behind the bar as well, with the club’s deputy chairman lining him up work at Wests, a chain that runs a number of pubs and sports bars in town. 
“We’ve been really lucky,” says Cordery.  “We can work as much as we want around cricket — and it pays well too. It’s ideal.” 
Back home in Hampshire's Meon Valley, the next chapter in his fledgling career is waiting to be written.  
Defending champions St Cross had been keeping tabs on Cordery for some time, and their interest accelerated after Cordery bowled against them for the Hampshire Academy in the Premier League last season. 
“It’s one of the closest clubs to me, it’s a great place to play and I know a few of the lads already,” he says. “The atmosphere seems brilliant, I’m really looking forward to it.” 
Leaving the Hampshire Academy could easily have felt like hitting a dead end. But with Rookie Contracts at a premium, Cordery paints the experience in a positive light.  
“You either get a rookie contract or you don’t — that’s just how it works,” he says.
“But the academy guys, the likes of Tommo (James Tomlinson) and Charlie (Freeston) were really good with me. "They said, ‘You’ve got our numbers, stay in touch.’
"Even guys who left years ago still contact them. The support doesn’t suddenly stop.” 
                                                                                          Injury issues
Injuries in recent seasons were always going to make that contract award unlikely, with Cordery battling, variously, an asymptomatic stress fracture, ankle ligament damage, a chipped bone and two side strains. 
“There is a point when you start questioning whether your body will actually hold up,” he says. “So no, I wasn’t really surprised not to get the rookie.” 
But that doesn’t mean the dream has died. 
“Playing county cricket is still the goal,” he says.  “We started speaking to other counties towards the end of last season, but while there were still opportunities at Hampshire, it didn’t make sense to go elsewhere.  
“I’ll do England, Australia, England back-to-back, and if I’m still loving it after that, then I know I’m in the right place.  
“If that happens, then I’ll look at options properly next year.” 
Cordery knows the kind of quality that the Hampshire pathway can produce. He has, after all, spent the last three years bowling at the county’s next big things. 
“Ben Mayes and Manny Lumsden – they're seriously good cricketers,” he says.
“I’ve played with them since we were about 11.  “Ben was always this small, quiet lad and then suddenly he’s built like a tank and smacking it everywhere. I genuinely think he could go all the way. 
“But I think all of us have benefited from playing for the Academy in league cricket.  It’s not just about the standard of cricket, it’s about having to adapt.
"Away to Bournemouth, for example, is a completely different challenge to bowling on the nursery ground at the Utilita Bowl.  
“You learn how to work things out for yourself. And that’s what county cricket is like too.” 
But for all the ambition, he’s just as excited about the simple things that cricket can offer - Saturday evenings, a packed clubhouse, a few pints and shared stories from teams returning to Winchester after their Saturday outings. 
“The best part of the week,” he says. “All the teams comes back, you have a beer in the sun and talk about everything that has happened - it doesn’t get better than that.” 
Article reproduced by kind permission of The Hawk magazine.

Former England Test opening batsman and 1987 Ashes winner Chris Broad (left above) and Sussex Director of Cricket Paul Farbrace (right) are the guest speakers at this week's Hampshire & Dorset Society meetings.  
Now Nottinghamshire president, Broad speaks to the HCS at the Romsey Golf Club on Wednesday (2pm), with Farbrace set to discuss Sussex and England Test & T20I performances at Hurn Bridge on Thursday, 1.45pm.

Former South Wilts and Sarisbury Athletic spin all-rounder Ryan Burl helped Zimbabwe pull off a major ICC T20 World Cup shock - the African nation claiming a stunning 23-run win over 2021 champions Australia in Colombo.
Burl, who spent three seasons playing Southern Premier League cricket between 2013 and 2015 after being spotted playing in an U19 international tournament in Cape Town while he was at Peterhouse School, hit 35 off 30 balls as Zimbabwe posted 169-2.
Australia were in big trouble at 29-4 before Matt Renshaw and Glenn Maxwell put on 77 for the fifth wicket.  That ended when Burl, bowling his solitary over, bowled the one-time Hampshire and South Wilts 'big show' for 31.  Australia needed 34 from the final two overs, but fell short.
Burl scored over 1200 runs and took just over 50 wickets in his three seasons playing locally, his 2014 summer at Bemerton being curtailed when he broke his collar bone playing against the Hampshire Academy on the Rose Bowl Nursery Ground.
Logan Van Beek, who played for St Cross Symondians in Winchester in 2017, has been playing for the Netherlands in the CWC tournament, while one-time Burridge recruit Marcus Campopiano will in the Italy team against England at Eden Gardens on Monday, 9.30.

Bashley (Rydal) left-armer Brad Currie picked up the wicket of Jos Buttler in a superb first spell with the ball for Scotland against ICC World Cup neighbours England, but they weren't able to defend their total of 152 as Harry Brook's side bounced back from their West Indies defeat.
Currie scored two from number 11 as Scotland reached 152, having been put in by Brook at at Calcutta's Eden Gardens
The Poole based seamer took the second over with the ball as Scotland looked to defend that total, and he bowled impressively in tandem with Brandon McMullen as they got off to a good start.
Opener Phil Salt was dismissed by McMullen for two in the first over, before Currie's second went for nine runs - although five of those came from a four behind the keeper from a ball that just swung down leg and beat everything.
But Currie used the extra ball brilliantly to see Buttler caught at mid-off as he tried to clear the ring.
Currie's second over was equally as impressive as it went for just five runs, leaving England 21/2 after four overs.
His third and final over came in the 14th over and that again was economical, going for just seven, but England by that point had got themselves into a strong position thanks to Somerset's Tom Banton, and they reached their target after two balls of the 19th over.
Currie's Scotland are next in action on Tuesday as they face Nepal in Mumbai in their final group game.

Rod Bransgrove, a former resident of Awbridge, near Romsey, and the financial saviour of Hampshire Cricket Club, will be talking about his time as its chairman in a question and answer session in Awbridge village hall on Saturday March 28, the evening before the clocks change and sunlight bursts through our lounge windows. 
This will include a two-course supper and the chance to win a copy of the biography of his life and career, which takes in building the Rose Bowl, battles to stage Test matches and securing a first-ever Ashes contest in the county, to be held next year. 
Tickets are £25 and all proceeds go towards renovating Awbridge Church. The event starts at 7pm. Please contact Ivo Tennant of The Times, who will be introducing him: [email protected]

Former AFC Bournemouth chairman Jeff Mostyn, rightly acknowledged as the man who saved the Cherries, speaks to the Dorset Cricket Society at Hurn Bridge (Christchurch FC) on Thursday, 1.45pm.
The following Thursdays the DCS will hear from Sussex cricket coach Paul Farbrace, then retired soccer manager Tony Pulis.   

Promising all-rounder Asad Abbas is the latest Lymington player to achieve international recognition.
​Representing Pakistan in the Asian Legends T20 cup competition in Thailand, the Hampshire Seniors spin ace took seven wickets in four matches, including 3-1 against Sri Lanka. Pakistan finished fourth in the tournament, which Asad described as "an amazing experience".
His son Monam continues to play for Port Fairy in Melbourne, where his winter has so far produced 453 runs and 28 wickets.

Brad Currie's biography on social media platform X reads: "21/22 OR: 1k. 22/23 OR: 1.8k."
The Bashley (Rydal) left-armer will likely open the bowling for Scotland against England at the T20 World Cup on Saturday, but those numbers do not reference his cricket stats.
Instead, they are Currie's record playing Fantasy Football because online he is known by another name, 'FPL Scofield'.
There he runs an account with thousands of followers offering tips and tactics on the online football game.
"My notes page on my iPad is filled with FPL transfers and fixtures rotations," Currie told BBC Sport.
"My YouTube algorithm is just FPL videos galore. My Twitter is nothing other than football and even my TikTok. My girlfriend absolutely hates it."
Currie, 27, was once ranked 30th in the world in a game now played by almost 13 million people.
Playing a World Cup in India comes with one obvious problem - the five-and-a-half-hour time difference to the UK.
This week's Premier League matches kicked off in the early hours and the deadlines to make transfers were late at night.
"It was horrible," he says. "I can't figure out a way to get the games on and I am even struggling to see highlights. "It has been absolute torture, but thankfully it is the FA Cup this weekend."
Though the secret has started to come out, the professional cricket world was initially unaware of Currie's alter ego.
These days he gets messages from team-mates and opponents asking for advice.
"[Sussex bowler] Sean Hunt is one," Currie says. "He messaged me a screenshot before our West Indies game and said: 'I know you have bigger things at play, but what do you think of my team?'
"The other day he said: 'What do you think of my team? Oh and well bowled.'"
So what about a tip for the rest of the FPL season?
"Chip strategy," Currie replies quickly. "Dead-end into Gameweek 31. Wildcard in 32. Bench boost 33.  "Triple captain whenever you want."
                                                                                   All clear ?
Currie is the brother of Scott - the Scotland bowler who was called up by England last year. They both qualify for Scotland via their Scottish dad, Bill, having grown up on England's south coast. Left-armer Brad studied sports psychology at Bournemouth University, having previously studied at Poole Grammar and Millfield.
A lifelong fan, Brad was at the Cherries' 3-2 win over Liverpool at the Vitality Stadium - when Amine Adli scored a 95th-minute winner against the Premier League champions - the day he got the call from coach Owen Dawkins to tell him he had made Scotland's World Cup squad.
"I said to my mate: 'I know exactly what this is, but I can't pick this up because I won't get any signal," Currie says. "I got to the phone later and Dawks said: 'That was a good result, wasn't it?' "I said: 'Yeah, and I hope you're not going to ruin my mood now.'"
Having been pipped at qualifying by the Netherlands and Italy, Scotland got a place at this World Cup when Bangladesh opted to boycott the tournament.
The preceding weeks were uncertain, filled with claims and counterclaims about whether the Tigers would take part and what it would mean for Scotland if they did not. Even the players were not immune.
"I was at Sussex training in the indoor school and was asking all of the powers that be and the coaching staff," Currie says.
"It was crazy to have people saying we were going. I just thought, 'you know more than me and I am one of the players in the official Scotland group chat'."
As a county pro at Sussex, Currie was fortunate he had been training through the winter.
Bowlers' workloads are notoriously important to manage, however, and Scotland's focus switched from the Cricket World Cup League 2 at the end of March to a T20 World Cup in India at the start of February.
"I don't know what date it officially got announced but the two days after were the weekend and I just did nothing," he says.
"My girlfriend's family were like: 'Should you not be training? Should you not be doing something?'
"You can't cram in. You just will get injured. It is not like a school test where you can cram in revision."
Uncertainty also surrounded the availability of the younger Currie brother.

​Despite being picked by England for the tour of Ireland last year, he did not make his debut, leaving some to wonder if he could switch back to the Scots.
As it turned out, one spell as a substitute fielder made him ineligible.
"I had to text him and ask," Brad says. "My heart sank because there are loads of brothers out here playing.
"We have just played the Manentis and the Moscas [against Italy]. There's the Sheikh brothers [Nepal] as well.
"It probably would have forced Mum and Dad to remortgage the house and get some flights out but there's only one son out here so it's not needed.
"He is going to try and please Mum and play for England, but I am going to keep Dad sweet and stick to my Scottish genes."
England's defeat by West Indies effectively means Saturday's encounter is a must-win for both sides.
They last met at the 2024 T20 World Cup when an impressive Scotland batting performance meant England were faced with a tricky 110 in 10 overs before rain prevented what could have been an intriguing situation.
"It is something we will never have the answer to," Currie says. "I have learned to fear no one and go into games expecting to win.
"I have a fair background in sports psychology and that is the best way to approach these games. They have Adil Rashid [batting] at 11 with 10 first-class hundreds and I haven't got a first-class double-digit score. I am not naive. They have got to play and travel. We have played two games at Eden Gardens.
"I am just looking forward to it."

Hampshire teen talents Ben Mayes and Manny Lumsden headed the ICC Under-19 World Cup batting and bowling charts, despite England losing the final by 100 runs to India, who carried off the trophy fora sixth time.
Mays' 48 runs in final edged him ahead of 14-year old India superstar Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, whose astonishing 175 effectively sealed England's fate in mid-morning.  
Ben Mayes' performance in the World Cup was nothing short of remarkable. He topped the run-scorers' charts, with 444 runs in seven innings, which included 191 against Scotland, and two other 70-plus scores 
He hit a breezy 48 in the cup final defeat by India, having earlier snared three catches. 
Lumsden finished the tournament with 16 victims, including a five-wicket return against New Zealand. 
It was no disgrace for England to lose to India. They were confronted not just by a left-handed prodigy but a sporting phenomenon. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi added a brutal 175 – from just 80 balls and including 15 sixes – to his remarkable list of achievements in his 14 years and 315 days on this planet. 
Not only is he the youngest-ever signing in the IPL (aged just 13 when he was bought by Rajasthan Royals) but he then hit the first ball he received in the tournament – from Test bowler Shardul Thakar – for six in a debut innings of 34 from 20 balls. 
Not long afterwards he became the youngest-ever IPL centurion (aged 14 years 32 days), getting to three figures in just 35 balls, the second fastest hundred in IPL history. And he hasn’t even started shaving.

Cape Town leg-spin all-rounder Craig Jeffery is leaving Fareham & Crofton to ply his trade with Tonge, a Bolton-based club in the North West League.
He has been at Fareham for the past three summers, skippering the Bath Lane club to sixth place in Southern Premier Division 3 last season.
His 667-run tally, which included centuries against Gosport Borough and Parley, left him fourth in the division's batting charts. He also took 20 wickets.
"I've had a marvelous three seasons at Fareham helping the club establish itself in Premier League cricket.  My stay there has not only enhanced my cricket, but also set up junior coaching clinics which my successor will hopefully benefit from," he said 
Anxious to fill their overseas player vacancy, Fareham recently sent their chairman and left-hand opener Tom Kent to Cape Town to spend three months with the Plumstead based Western Province League outfit.
Kent got an immediate - and painful - taste of what WPCA cricket is about as opponents Claremont rattled up 457-8 in 50 overs against Cape Town seconds.
"A guy named Perez made 237 of them, hitting 20 sixes and 21 fours. I've never seen hitting like it," Kent said.
Cape Town made 223 in reply, Kent adding 13 runs to the two catches he took.

Hampshire teens Ben Mayes and Manny Lumsden featured as England's Young Lions pulled off a tense 27-run victory over Australia to secure a place in Friday’s final of the 2026 ICC U19s Men’s World Cup. 
They will face five-times CWC champions India, the winner of Wednesday's second semi-final against Afghanistan in Harare.  The match is being broadcast live on Sky Sports Cricket.
Thomas Rew’s 110 led England to 277-7, Mays (the CWC's leading run maker)  playing some crisp leg-side shots in his 24 before being yorked. 
That left England 60-3 until a decisive century stand between Rew and Caleb Falconer (40) swung the match.
A double strike by Lumsden (2-55) reduced the Aussies to 134-5 after which Australia captain Oliver Peake’s 85-ball century threatened to steal the game away, despite battling with cramp late in his innings.
But England’s bowlers held their nerve as they again shared the wickets around, Winchester College schooled Seb Morgan taking 2-33 and then the tenth wicket catch which dismissed Peake for 100 and left Australia 250 all out.

Leading sports commentor Ian Darke is guest speaker at this Thursday's Dorset Cricket Society meeting at the Hurn Bridge Social Club (aka Christchurch FC) at 1.45pm.
After cutting his teeth in provincial journalism, Ian spent ten years on the BBC sports desk in London, frequently presenting Sports Report alongside covering top soccer and world championship boxing. He later moved into television as a front line commentator with Sky Sports. He subsequently switched to BT Sport (now TNT) where he now covers Champions League and Premiership soccer.
Ian comes highly recommended, so why not pop along ?  

Promoted Sparsholt have recruited Aussie left-arm quick bowler Jak Willcox to spearhead their attack in Southern Premier Division 2 this summer.
Jak has a wealth of high level experience in Australia and has overseen success as the First Grade captain and club coach of Ginninderra in the Camberra based ACT Premier Cricket competition for the last 4 years. 
Jak says “It’s a very exciting opportunity and a privilege to come across and be a part of the Sparsholt family for the upcoming UK summer. 
"I can’t wait to arrive and provide opportunities for the club to grow across all programs, not only this summer but hopefully for many more to come”. 
Willco, who replaces Totton & Eling bound Joe Merlino as Sparsholt's overseas player, will coach the club's juniors, men’s and women’s sections.
Sparsholt open their SPL2 challenge at Liphook & Ripsley on May 2.

Hampshire's Manny Lumsden carried off the Man of the Match award after his five-wicket haul swept England to a 65-run win over New Zealand and into Tuesday's opening ICC Under-19 semi-final tie against Australia.
The Hook & Newnham Basics raised teenager struck twice early in the Kiwi innings before taking three wickets in four balls to end their reply at 165. Hampshire Academy team-mate Ben Mayes top scored with 53 in England's 234-7.
Discussing Lumsden's 5-17 return, England skipper Thomas Rew said: "Manny was incredible. He's been great all tournament. He's bowled quick and stayed aggressive, which is exactly what we ask of him. 
"Having that kind of firepower in the squad is a massive asset. It's nice to win today and know we're through. We'll still be watching the games on Sunday, but we are really looking forward to that semi-final."
A beaming Lumsden, who is in his A-level year Radley College, is now the World Cup's leading wicket taker with 13 scalps. 
"It's a lovely feeling. It feels amazing to contribute to a win and get five wickets on the board. I just tried to keep the stumps in play with the variable bounce. As you saw with the last couple of wickets, the ball was staying low. It was about staying disciplined with my line and length to eventually get the reward." 
About his 'enforcer' role, Lumsden added: "Yeah, that comes quite naturally to me. I've been doing that for a while back at home as well, so the role fits my game perfectly.
                                                                                    Absolutely chuffed
"It feels amazing to have won all five games we've played. All the boys have contributed really well throughout the group stage and the Super Sixes. It's been a great team performance and I'm absolutely chuffed. "Everyone in our team is really tight and close, which is a very good thing. The captain lets you know early on when you're bowling so you can get loose and try to affect the game from those first few balls."
Winchester College raised Seb Morgan, who plays for Ealing and Middlesex, bowled well with a 2-38 return after Mayes asserted himself at the top of the CWC U19 World Cup batting charts with 53, which largely held the England innings together.
Rew added: "I'm really proud of how we stuck at it with the bat; Caleb Falconer and Mayes, in particular, really grinded on a tough wicket. To get up to that total put us in a good place at half-time, and the way the seamers bowled after that was an incredible performance all around. "
"The bounce was just so inconsistent, up and down, and there was a bit of spin too, especially when the ball was slower. The way the boys dealt with that was incredible. Then, we used the bounce to our advantage by hitting hard lengths and targeting the top of off-stump for as long as possible." 
* England's semi-final tie v India in Bulawayo is being screened live on Sky Sports Cricket from 7.30am on Tuesday.

Former Bournemouth batsman Stuart Rintoul is the speaker at today's [Thursday] Dorset Cricket Society meeting at Christchurch FC [aka Hurn Bridge] at 1.45pm.

Bashley (Rydal) left-arm seamer Brad Currie, pictured, has been chosen to play for Scotland in next month's ICC World Cup in India, where he will link up with Hampshire's Brad Wheal.
Scotland were the beneficiaries of Bangladesh's last-minute withdrawal from the World Cup as the highest-ranked team who had not already qualified.
Currie, who qualifies for Scotland through his dad Bill, made his international debut at the ICC T20 World Cup Qualifier in 2023. He took 5-13 in the final against Ireland - just his sixth appearance - and helped to secure the team's place at the 2024 tournament in the Caribbean and USA.
The 27-year old Poole based medium pace bowler has a white ball contract with Sussex and is expected to play in this summer's T20 Blast.
Scotland are due to play warm-up matches against Afghanistan and Namibia in Bengaluru on February 2 and 4 before their opening fixture against West Indies in Kolkata. Their other first-round matches are against Italy, England and Nepal, with the top two teams in Group B then qualifying for the Super 8s stage.

​Will Tripcony enjoyed the Bashley (Rydal) bagging rights as Elsterwick, his adopted Melbourne club side, beat Victoria CA North South rivals Brunswick by three wickets with five balls of their 45-over league match remaining.
The tall, elegant right-hander led the Elsterwick run chase with a stylish 81 (three sixes and four boundaries) before being caught off the bowling of Bash team-mate Dan Goodey (2-57) with his side 20 runs shy of Brunswick's 186-5.   Michael Porter made 14.
Elsterwick are second in the log, three points behind leaders Brighton, with Brunswick halfway.
Hampshire's Dom Kelly made his fourth 50-plus score for WACA Grade club Melville, making 57 in the defeat by University, while at fourth grade level Havant's Harrison Barnard doubled his run tally for the winter with a personal best 111 for Bayswater-Morley IV. 

​Langley Manor pictured in their new coloured kit which they'll wear for the first time in May when they debut in Southern Premier Division 1, the highest standard the club has achieved since its promotion from the Hampshire League back in 2012. The attire is provided as part of the Manor's generous and on-going sponsorship by Meachers.
Progress has been gradual, with consolidation being a key factor. They were SPL3 winners in 2016 and last season, after making their presence felt on several previous occasions, gained promotion into the second tier of the Hampshire recreational pyramid by virtue of finishing runners-up to Division 2 champions Calmore Sports. 
They won ten of their 16 completed matches, with Jack Budd (568 runs) and Connor Browne adding 18 wicketkeeping victims to his 526-run tally. Both batsmen scored centuries, Budd twice - against Fawley and Hartley Wintney -  and Browne v Trojans.  Nick Doubell chipped with 371 runs, with little Tommy Spencer's 29-wicket haul including a personal best 6-36 against Sway in August.
The Manor's Division 1 bow is at Fair Oak on May 2 - the very first time they will have played 'white ball' cricket - with local rivals Totton & Eling visiting Knellers Lane a week later.

South Wilts are eager to make an early start to their pre-season programme with an away fixture on Saturday April 11 2026.  Any club able to host South Wilts should contact Ben Draper 07713 031 376 or [email protected].
Club are welcome to use this website to attract opposition to fill vacant pre-season friendly dates. Email [email protected] with all relevant details.

Hampshire teens Manny Lumsden and Ben Mayes played their parts as England moved a step closer to qualifying for the semi-finals of the 2026 ICC Men’s U19s World Cup with a comfortable seven-wicket win against Bangladesh in Bulawayo.
The Young Lions cruised to their fourth successive victory to start the tournament after bowling Bangladesh out for 136.
Lumsden took 1-18 as all six England bowlers claimed at least one wicket with Winchester College coached right-armer Sebastian Morgan’s three for 28 the best of the figures.
Captain Thomas Rew then led the chase with an unbeaten 59 from 50 balls while the tournament’s leading run scorer Ben Mayes struck 34 before holing out a deep mid-wicket with England on the cusp of winnIng. They reached their target with 25.5 overs to spare.
The win moved England top of Group 2 with a maximum six points ahead of their final Super Sixes match against New Zealand on Friday. Their place in the last four may be confirmed before that match, should Pakistan fail to beat New Zealand tomorrow.

St Cross Symondians will enjoy home advantage in three of their opening 'white ball' 50 over ECB Southern Premier League matches in May, with 2024 champions Burridge, Lymington and Portsmouth all set to visit the Green Jackets ground. 
The club's away games are at promoted Sarisbury Athletic and the Hampshire Academy on May 9 and 23, respectively.  
Arguably the pick of the opening round of Premier Division matches on May 2 is the New Forest derby between Bashley (Rydal) and Lymington, the visitors winning last season's curtain raiser before emerging victorious in four of their first five games.
Last season's SPL1 winners Sarisbury Athletic begin at Bournemouth, with Portsmouth hosting Alton and a new look Hampshire Academy side taking on the northbound A36 traffic to face South Wilts at Bemerton.
There are 18 rounds of matches concluding on August 29.

Toby Snell, who made over 750 Southern Premier Division and T20 Cup runs for Burridge last season, celebrated a maiden century in Queensland's powerful Grade cricket with an unbeaten 122 for Toombul against Valley, a knock which included two sixes and 15 fours.  He made 70* in his next knock too.
OTs & Romsey spin all-rounder Joe Vaughan took VCA run aggregate past the 600-mark with 92 Bentleigh in the Southern Bayside League. He hit 12 fours.

​UPDATE TO SAFETY REGULATIONS FOR 2026 SEASON

In light of the tragic passing of a young cricketer in Australia in October 2025, the ECB has reviewed its relevant safety regulations and policies, and is making the following updates:
▪️ All cricketers are strongly advised to wear neck protectors at all times that they are required or recommended to wear helmets.
▪️ It is recommended that ball throwers and bowling machines are only operated by adults who are suitably experienced, competent, and familiar with their safe operation. Bowling machines and ball throwers should not be operated by U18s.
▪️ New Safety Guidelines for Training Environments have been created, covering safe setup and operation of net facilities, operation of bowling machines and use of ball throwers.

Hampshire teenage starlet Ben Mayes wrote himself into history books by registering the highest individual score by an England batter at the ICC Under-19 Men's Cricket World Cup after smashing 191 off just 117 balls against Scotland on Wednesday in Harare. 
Mayes' score was also the joint second-highest of all-time in U19 World Cup history, equalling Sri Lanka's Hasitha Boyagoda and falling just one short of the world record score of Viran Chamudith, who achieved this record earlier in the tournament against Japan.
England finished their innings with a massive total of 404-6, putting them in a dominant position after a masterclass of power hitting. 
Mayes knock led England to register the sixth-highest score in the history of ICC Under-19 Men's Cricket World Cup, and the highest in the tournament thus far.
It bettered Dan Lawrence's innings of 174 against Fiji at the 2016 event for the highest ever by an England player at a Men's Under-19 World Cup and Mayes was thrilled to make a strong contribution.
"I just tried to take it a ball at a time. I was really well helped by people chipping in as well. I think it helped, kept me in the moment. No other words for it. It feels amazing (talking about his knock). 
"As a team, we've tried to identify areas where we can score best, bowlers we can target. I think the whole team did that well today, not only me." Ben Mayes said after his innings.
                                                                              Onslaught
Mayes, who sits his A-levels at King Edward VI School in Southampton this summer, came into bat after England had lost Kent's Ben Dawkins early and he wasted no time in taking the attack to the opposition. 
Mayes along with Joe Moores began an onslaught that saw them record a 188-run stand in about 22 overs.
Mayes was supported brilliantly by Moores, who scored a quick 81, and their massive partnership effectively took the game away from the opposition.
The 18-year-old Mayes had a lion’s share in the partnership as he continued to dominate the opposition bowlers. In his innings, he smashed 18 boundaries and smashed eight sixes to completely flatten the Scottish attack.
Winchester College raised Seb Morgan hit a quick-fire 25 not out in the closing stages.
England's bowlers were impressive as they dismissed Scotland for just 152 in reply to ensure the side qualified for the Super Six phase of the event in Bulawayo.
Manny Lumsden took 2-17, while Hartley Wintney prospect Ethan Ramsay was 20* at the end of the Scotland innings. His four overs of medium-pace earlier cost 
"I think a lot of attention switched today for us because we know if we got a good win against Scotland, it might mean only needing to win one in the Super Sixes to go through (to the semi-finals)," Mayes added.
"So, I think we've put ourselves in a really strong position."
                                                                  Ben Mayes youth development
Ben Mayes has signed his first professional deal with Hampshire which will see him remain at Utilita Bowl until the end of the 2027 season.
He has been part of the men’s Academy since 2024 and has represented England Men’s U19s numerous times.
The 18-year-old was part of the Academy squad that won the ECB Southern Premier League for the first time in 2024, and last summer scored a century for the Young Hawks against St Cross Symondians at Utilita Bowl.
Mayes, who played England U16 hockey and has a single-figure golf handicap, has been in the Hampshire pathway since the U14s age group and previously played club cricket for Totton and Eling at Southern Gardens. 
He made his Academy debut in May 2023, aged just 15 years old. He scored his first half-century for the Academy against Bournemouth in August 2024, where he fell two runs shy of a century.
In his first outing for the Second XI in 2025, Mayes scored 105 against Nottinghamshire and followed it up with a century for the Academy ten days later.
On his debut for England U19s, Mayes scored 30 not out and followed it up with 66 against Ireland U19s.  He was then called up to the tour of South Africa, where he made 51 and earned Player of the Match in the first Youth ODI at Western Province.

Local boy made good cricketer Eddie Jack will be in conversation with Hampshire's James Tomlinson at the Dorset Cricket Society's inaugural 2026 meeting at Hurn Bridge (aka Christchurch FC) on Thursday, 1.45pm.
Schooled at Canford, the Wimborne has played for England U19s and recently returned from the England Lions Australian tour. It promises to be an enlightening afternoon.  Why not pop along ?