Alongside Shrewton, Purbrook are being touted as potential Hampshire League, County Division 1 winners this season and they’ll have an international flavour about them with the addition of two Afghans and a New Zealander to their side to visit Sarisbury Athletic II at Allotment Road, writes Kevin Ricketts.
Captain Martin Lee recruited Hamid Khan and Sameen Mahboob from disbanded Peartree, and 19 year old left-arm spinner Ben Michell, from New Zealand, who played in the Gloucestershire League last season. All-rounder Brad Mengham has also returned to the club after a short spell at Waterlooville.
'There are a few new faces around the place and have lost a couple of the old stagers,' said Purbrook captain Martin Lee.
Purbrook : Martin Lee, Sean Figgins, Brad Mengham, Nathan Snelling, Aaron Dean, Clark Harding, Ben Michell, Hamid Khan, Sameen Mahboob, John Moller, Dave Cleeve.
Shrewton, who were in the title mix for most of last summer before fading away, visit OTs & Romsey, one of ten SPL second teams in the Hampshire League.
Bishops Waltham captain Dan Wheeler is adamant that his team are ready for their first-ever season in Hampshire One cricket.
They make their County Division one debut against Alton II at Albany Road determined to build on their success of the last couple of seasons.
Alton were relegated from the Southern Electric League last season so are expected to provide a stern opening test.
Wheeler however is confident his side can consolidate their position in the higher league.
'Stepping up will be a big challenge for everybody in the team but the feeling in the camp is that we are up for it,' said Wheeler.
'We know that it will be more difficult but we are ready to take it on.
'Last season we scored over 300 runs on four or five occasions and dominated games. We know it won't be so easy to do that this time around.
“Now we find ourselves in 50 over matches instead of 45 and also have to contend with fielding restrictions. Making the adjustments tactically will be a massive challenge and it is a step up for all of us.
'I have every confidence that we will be able to adapt and maintaining consistency will be the key.
'Our aim must be to consolidate our position at this level and must aim for at least a mid-table finish.'
Once again Bishops Waltham are using their links with Hong Kong cricket to boost their squad with an overseas recruit.
Top order batsman and leg spin bowler Sony Bhimsaria is expected to arrive in the country in time for Waltham's third game of the season.
Bhimsaria is currently with the Hong Kong under 19's squad trying to break through into the seniors.
Wheeler expects the new recruit to make last seasons top order batting even stronger joining prolific run-scoring opening pair Phil Baldock and Harry McGhee.
'There is good continuity from last year when we earned promotion through a good consistent team effort,' said Wheeler.
'We know that stepping up we will need someone each week to produce a match-winning performance either with the bat or ball.'
Wheeler believes the best is still to come from a couple of his players.
He hopes to have vice-captain and wicketkeeper Gareth Lovell available for most of the season and regular cricket will see him return to his previous best.
Andy Wakeley didn't have the greatest time with the ball last season after topping the County Division Three bowling averages the previous year.
Wakeley is keen to bounce back and prove a point and add to an attack that saw Wheeler take 31 wickets last season. Twenty one year old Sam Medhurst will have benefited from playing cricket in New Zealand during the winter.
Robbie Pitts-Mellan has also returned to the club after spending a couple of seasons with Alton II.
Bishops Waltham : Mark Boriani, Andy Wakeley, Dom Quincy, Gareth Lovett, Harry Barrett, Sam Medhurst, James Redding, James Mitchell, Phil Dalton, Richard Dadd, Dan Wheeler, Robbie Pitt-Mellan.
United Services captain Matt Easton is relishing the challenge as his team make their return to County Division One cricket at newly promoted Andover II.
Services have bounced straight back up into the senior division after being relegated the previous year. Easton feels his team are better equipped this time around after the success of last season.
'We want to make sure we hit the ground running and carry on where we left off last season,' said Easton.
"I am looking for us to achieve a top half finish and if we keep playing positive cricket must have a good chance of doing so. The priority, however, is to consolidate and make sure we remain at this level.'
Easton is pleased to have top order batsman Mark Toogood available on a more regular basis. He is also hoping to attract a few talented local students who have expressed an interest in joining.
Kieron Dunstan is optimistic his Portsmouth & Southsea team – who entertain a potentially weak Ventnor II - can launch a bid for the title this season.
The team has been together for four or five years and Dunstan hopes that consistency can finally pay off.
'It is time we did the business,' said Dunstan. 'We finished well at the back end of last season when we dominated our opponents.
Dunstan is looking forward to returning to action after missing the second half of last season with a damaged shoulder.
Portsmouth & S : Matt Smith, Steve Clements, Jack Davies, Matt Benfield, Tom Benfield, Dan Fry-Sperring, Ben Saunders, Matt Williams, Chris Turrell, Jon Willey, Kieran Dunstan.
Fareham & Crofton bring the curtain up on their season with a home game against New Milton II at Bath Lane. Luke Gould is a doubt after injuring his shoulder playing hockey
Captain Martin Lee recruited Hamid Khan and Sameen Mahboob from disbanded Peartree, and 19 year old left-arm spinner Ben Michell, from New Zealand, who played in the Gloucestershire League last season. All-rounder Brad Mengham has also returned to the club after a short spell at Waterlooville.
'There are a few new faces around the place and have lost a couple of the old stagers,' said Purbrook captain Martin Lee.
Purbrook : Martin Lee, Sean Figgins, Brad Mengham, Nathan Snelling, Aaron Dean, Clark Harding, Ben Michell, Hamid Khan, Sameen Mahboob, John Moller, Dave Cleeve.
Shrewton, who were in the title mix for most of last summer before fading away, visit OTs & Romsey, one of ten SPL second teams in the Hampshire League.
Bishops Waltham captain Dan Wheeler is adamant that his team are ready for their first-ever season in Hampshire One cricket.
They make their County Division one debut against Alton II at Albany Road determined to build on their success of the last couple of seasons.
Alton were relegated from the Southern Electric League last season so are expected to provide a stern opening test.
Wheeler however is confident his side can consolidate their position in the higher league.
'Stepping up will be a big challenge for everybody in the team but the feeling in the camp is that we are up for it,' said Wheeler.
'We know that it will be more difficult but we are ready to take it on.
'Last season we scored over 300 runs on four or five occasions and dominated games. We know it won't be so easy to do that this time around.
“Now we find ourselves in 50 over matches instead of 45 and also have to contend with fielding restrictions. Making the adjustments tactically will be a massive challenge and it is a step up for all of us.
'I have every confidence that we will be able to adapt and maintaining consistency will be the key.
'Our aim must be to consolidate our position at this level and must aim for at least a mid-table finish.'
Once again Bishops Waltham are using their links with Hong Kong cricket to boost their squad with an overseas recruit.
Top order batsman and leg spin bowler Sony Bhimsaria is expected to arrive in the country in time for Waltham's third game of the season.
Bhimsaria is currently with the Hong Kong under 19's squad trying to break through into the seniors.
Wheeler expects the new recruit to make last seasons top order batting even stronger joining prolific run-scoring opening pair Phil Baldock and Harry McGhee.
'There is good continuity from last year when we earned promotion through a good consistent team effort,' said Wheeler.
'We know that stepping up we will need someone each week to produce a match-winning performance either with the bat or ball.'
Wheeler believes the best is still to come from a couple of his players.
He hopes to have vice-captain and wicketkeeper Gareth Lovell available for most of the season and regular cricket will see him return to his previous best.
Andy Wakeley didn't have the greatest time with the ball last season after topping the County Division Three bowling averages the previous year.
Wakeley is keen to bounce back and prove a point and add to an attack that saw Wheeler take 31 wickets last season. Twenty one year old Sam Medhurst will have benefited from playing cricket in New Zealand during the winter.
Robbie Pitts-Mellan has also returned to the club after spending a couple of seasons with Alton II.
Bishops Waltham : Mark Boriani, Andy Wakeley, Dom Quincy, Gareth Lovett, Harry Barrett, Sam Medhurst, James Redding, James Mitchell, Phil Dalton, Richard Dadd, Dan Wheeler, Robbie Pitt-Mellan.
United Services captain Matt Easton is relishing the challenge as his team make their return to County Division One cricket at newly promoted Andover II.
Services have bounced straight back up into the senior division after being relegated the previous year. Easton feels his team are better equipped this time around after the success of last season.
'We want to make sure we hit the ground running and carry on where we left off last season,' said Easton.
"I am looking for us to achieve a top half finish and if we keep playing positive cricket must have a good chance of doing so. The priority, however, is to consolidate and make sure we remain at this level.'
Easton is pleased to have top order batsman Mark Toogood available on a more regular basis. He is also hoping to attract a few talented local students who have expressed an interest in joining.
Kieron Dunstan is optimistic his Portsmouth & Southsea team – who entertain a potentially weak Ventnor II - can launch a bid for the title this season.
The team has been together for four or five years and Dunstan hopes that consistency can finally pay off.
'It is time we did the business,' said Dunstan. 'We finished well at the back end of last season when we dominated our opponents.
Dunstan is looking forward to returning to action after missing the second half of last season with a damaged shoulder.
Portsmouth & S : Matt Smith, Steve Clements, Jack Davies, Matt Benfield, Tom Benfield, Dan Fry-Sperring, Ben Saunders, Matt Williams, Chris Turrell, Jon Willey, Kieran Dunstan.
Fareham & Crofton bring the curtain up on their season with a home game against New Milton II at Bath Lane. Luke Gould is a doubt after injuring his shoulder playing hockey
