Sparsholt skipper Jeremy Frith can look back on another terrific season, topping the Southern Premier League Division 1 batting charts, finishing with the second highest number of wickets – and leading the Winchester club into the runners-up spot behind champions Hook & Newnham Basics.
No wonder he was an automatic choice for the SPL1 Team of the Year which, not surprisingly, contains four members of the champion club, led by Josh Buckingham.
Hook bowling team-mates Aniket Divecha, Martyn James and Jack Murrell were also named.
Selectors were spoiled for choice for wicketkeepers, with Sam O’Brien’s 505 runs tally for Sparsholt getting the Australian into the side, but into the field.  Andover teen Alex Ayers made 493 runs in nine knocks, one innings short of the qualifying criteria.
Calmore Sports pair Ben Johns, whose 651 runs contained two centuries, and Mark Lavelle, with an economic 33 victims at a miserly 2.78, were also selected.
Overall, the 11 players picked came from four clubs, Ben Duggan and Fraser Hay from Portsmouth.
Premier Division 1 Team of the Year –
Ben Duggan (Portsmouth): 590 runs
Ben Johns (Calmore Sports): 651 runs
Jeremy Frith (Sparsholt): 670 runs and 37 wickets
Fraser Hay (Portsmouth): 651 runs and 41 wickets
Sam O’Brien (Sparsholt): 505 runs and 16 dismissals
+ Josh Buckingham (Hook & Newnham Basics): 472 runs and 34 dismissals
David Banks (Sparsholt): 635 runs and 16 wickets
Mark Lavelle (Calmore Sports): 33 wickets
Jack Murrell (Hook & Newnham Basics): 32 wickets
Martyn James (Hook & Newnham Basics): 29 wickets
Aniket Divecha (Hook & Newnham Basics): 32 wickets

Veteran Basingstoke & North Hants all-rounder Keith Harsham has been chosen to represent England Over Sixties on an upcoming 14-match tour to Australia, which will include three One Day International 50-over 'Ashes' matches.
Harsham, who fired Hampshire Seniors to the ECB 50-plus County Championship quarter-finals with a breathtaking 98* against Berkshire this summer, will play a key all-rounder role for England with his hard middle-order hitting and seam bowling.
He will certainly need to keep fit on an exhausting 31-day trip, in which the England team will play in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, on the Gold Coast, and Northern New South Wales, Queensland, Sydney, and Tasmania.
"There are plenty of long coach journeys and a few internal flights, but the itinerary is superb, with seven warm-up games - the first against New Zealand - before we play Australia in three ODIs," Harsham smiled.

​Former England Test spin bowler Graeme Swann and retired BBC Test Match Special commentator Henry Blofeld are about to bring their ‘Dancing Down the Wicket’ tour to Basingstoke and Southampton.
Only a handful of tickets remain unsold for next Thursday’s show at the Basingstoke Haymarket Theatre [tel: 01256 844244] - but more are available on Sunday 10 November when the pair take to the stage at the Nuffield Theatre [tel: 023 8067 1771]on the Southampton University campus.

* The Southern Premier League Division 2 Team of the Year will be announced tomorrow.

Hook & Newnham Basics are set to be playing top level ECB Southern Premier League cricket next summer.
The pitch, outfield and off-field facilities at their tree lined King George V Ground have been given the nod of approval by the Premier League’s accreditation gurus.
Now all their promotion to the Premier Division now requires is formal ratification by the other 34 clubs at next month’s league annual meeting.
Ironically, Hook will be replacing arch local rivals Basingstoke & North Hants, who have suffered a multiple relegation with both their SPL teams and their third side, which plays in the Hampshire League, all demoted.
Hook lifted the Division 1 championship by winning 14 of their 16 league matches this season to finish a thumping 46 points ahead of Sparsholt, who finished runners-up.
It means a promotion double for HNB, with Kevin Light’s second team finishing runners-up behind Parley in Hampshire League County Division 1 and clinching a place in Premier Division 3 in the bargain.
                                                                                Proud moment
News of Hook’s promotion could hardly have come at a better time, with chairman Keith Lovelock making the announcement at the club’s awards dinner.
“It’s a proud moment for everyone associated with the club. To be able to celebrate two promotions like this is simply marvelous and speaks volumes for all the effort a lot of people have put in, both on and off the field,” he beamed.
“From a Chairman’s perspective, I’m obviously very proud of the way Josh Buckingham, in his first season as captain, matured into a leader. This was something I didn’t expect to happen so quickly if I’m honest, but he certainly showed little weakness and installed confidence in the younger team members.”
Hook & Newnham Basics’ recent investment in their playing facilities has certainly paid dividends.
“I’m told our actual pitch marks were very good and the outfield is improving quickly following a £70,000 project two winters ago to relay and drain the entire area,” Lovelock continued.
“We’ve also bought new custom-made sight screens, but on the playing side I’m sure we’ll need to recruit a few names faces if we want to compete in the Premier Division and, more importantly, stay strong as a club.”
He added that, much of Hook’s success in the summer months had been down to Vince Gardner's appointment as Director of Cricket and to pre-season training and proper preparation led by Ian Simpson and Buckingham himself.
Gardner explained: “Pre-season training was split between fitness on a Monday night and nets on Thursdays and Saturdays. 
“Once the season started our Tuesday night sessions were as professional as I can recall. The squad trained hard and the pre-match warm-ups were excellent.
“Our strategy at the start of the season was to maintain all four sides in their respective divisions but it soon became clear that the first and second teams should be challenging for honours. However, we literally went week by week and selection meetings we’re meticulous.”
                                                                                      Statement
“We held a 1st team squad players meeting at the start of the season and Josh made it clear he wanted all of the lads to play without fear, especially the young players that had been drafted in following the loss of 2 of our top order batters.”
“Josh built a new culture of train hard and enjoyment as a group. Young players were welcomed in and treated like senior players.”
Skipper Buckingham, who made a big statement on the Premier League scene with that blistering 84 off 40 balls in the previous season’s Twenty20 Cup final victory over South Wilts under the Ageas Bowl floodlights, paid tribute to his playing squad and back-up staff.
He said: “I’m so proud how hard the boys worked both on and off the field. We trained hard from January and that showed with our good start to the season.
“The most exciting thing is how young our squad is, and how we managed to encourage them to play positively, and without fear throughout the season. 
“We are extremely excited about the challenge of next year, and will train even harder to make sure we are ready to go next summer.”

​Alton teenager Abhay Gonella carried off the MVP award as his adopted Sydney club Campbelltown-Cadnam snatched a dramatic win over University of New South Wales in the NSW Premiers Second Grade this weekend.
The 18-year old produced a key all-round performance, taking 4-31 off 16 overs as UNSW were dismissed for 227 by stumps on day one.
Gonella [pictured] then underpinned a nervous Campbelltown run chase, opening the batting and scoring a patient 60 which included only three boundaries.
But his knock proved critical as CC grabbed victory courtesy of an unbroken tenth-wicket stand.
Andover's Alex Ayers, meanwhile, had to be satisfied with his four victims behind the stumps on day one of Parramatta's 89-run defeat by Sydney.  Ayers was unable to add to his overnight score of three as his side was dismissed for 159.

​Seasoned Burridge spin all-rounder Suji Wickramasinghe and Parley paceman Ollie Green have topped the Hampshire League County Division 1 individual performance charts this season.
Wickramasinghe, with 629 runs, saw off challenges from teen pair Dan Bailey (Sway) and Jacob Harris (Gosport Borough) to become lead run scorer, while Green [left] is top wicket taker for the second consecutive season.
New Milton raised Eric Linge made a hefty 811 runs for Ferndown Wayfarers, while Salisbury teen Henry Smith grabbed the opportunity to underline his swing bowling prowess by taking 33 wickets for South Wilts.
Hampshire Women's starlet Providence Cowdrill helped IBM Hursley win County 3 North with 32 wickets.
It was all in the Line of Duty for policeman Sam Godfrey to win the County 3 South batting prize with 772 runs for Cadnam, while Gregor McKenzie literally walked away with the County 4 North batting prize for Twyford.
Cricketers to receive their awards at the Hampshire League presentation dinner at the Ageas Bowl on Friday 8 November -
COUNTY DIV. 1: Suji Wickramasinghe (Burridge) - 629 runs
COUNTY DIV. 1: Ollie Green (Parley) - 36 wickets
COUNTY DIV. 2: Eric Linge (Ferndown Wayfarers) - 811 runs
COUNTY DIV. 2: Henry Smith (South Wilts) - 33 wickets
COUNTY DIV. 3N: Elliot Hennessey (Oakley) - 801 runs
COUNTY DIV. 3N: Providence Cowdrill (IBM Hursley) - 32 wickets
COUNTY DIV. 3S: Sam Godfrey (Cadnam) - 772 runs
COUNTY DIV. 3S: Ali Gajic (Verwood) - 35 wickets
COUNTY DIV. 4N: Gregor McKenzie (Twyford) - 729 runs
COUNTY DIV. 4N: Ollie Emslie (Wherwell) - 30 wickets
COUNTY DIV. 4S: Stuart Gurney (Ryde) - 660 runs
COUNTY DIV. 4S: Warren Turner (Railway Triangle)- 32 wickets
COUNTY DIV. 4W: James Brown (Burley) - 883 runs
COUNTY DIV. 4W: Marc Burton (Farley) - 35 wickets

At long last they've agreed on something !
It's taken a fair while, but news seeping out of Brussels suggests Michel Barnier, Jean-Claude Juncker, Angela Merkel and Boris are in agreement ...
The Southern Premier League Divisional 'Teams of the Season' have been picked and will be announced early next week, one per day.
Spokesman Donald Tusk said: "It's been a hard grind, so many aspects to consider. There's the hard border around Bemerton and Chapel Gate for starters. Can we do a trading deal with Ventnor and is Bashley (Rydal) a Dorset ground ?
"The team choices may not be to everyone's liking, but nor's Brexit by all accounts ..."

Alton's Adhay Gonella and Andover batsman/wicketkeeper Alex Ayers produced eye catching performances in the latest round of New South Wales Premier matches.
Because Alton frequently engage seam bowlers as overseas players, Gonella only gets the occasional opportunity to display his bowling skills - but, given a chance by his adopted Sydney club Campbelltown- Camden, he didn't disappoint.   In a 16-over spell he took 4-31 as opponents UNSW were dismissed for 227.
Ayers, meanwhile, snapped up four catches behind the stumps as Parramatta dismissed hosts Sydney for 248.  Ayers the opened  the batting and was 3 not out overnight.  Play resumes on Saturday.

Sixteen Hampshire clubs - Alton, Beaulieu, Burridge, Fair Oak, Grayshott, Havant, Hook & Newnham Basics, Hursley Park, Langley Manor, Longparish, Purbrook, Sparsholt, St Cross Symondians, Sway, Tichborne Park and Waterlooville - have been granted ECB ClubMark accreditation for 2018-2021.

South Wilts' pace bowler Luke Evans [pictured] has switched States to play his Aussie Grade cricket this winter. 
​Previously with the Victorian sub-district team Parkdale, Luke has crossed the New South Wales divide to play for St Patrick's in the Cricket Albury Wodonga competition and will debut in this weekend's back-to-back curtain raiser T20 matches.
The South Wilts connection remains at Parkdate, however, with Will Harries and teenager Jack Spearman having flown to Melbourne for their winter activities.

Island spin all-rounder Ben Attrill flew to Australia last night to spend the next six months honing his skills in South Western Australia county district cricket in the coastal town of Albany, a five-hour drive south of Perth.
The 18-year old, who is cutting his teenage teeth with Lymington in the ECB Southern Premier League, will play for Denmark in the Albany District League, where five of the six A-Grade clubs share the same turf pitches.
Attrill, who has deferred a placement at Oxford Brookes university to travel Down Under, got relatively few opportunities to make a significant impact Lymington, but was a leading light in the Isle of Wight U17 squad, hitting three fifty-plus scores in the ECB 50-over B Cup and another in the three-day county match against Dorset.
Attrill, who also took 19 wickets in ECB competitions with his off-breaks, will make his Danes debut in Saturday’s match against Railways.

Arthur Godsall has been named South Wilts' Cricketer of the Year after scoring 349 runs and taking 23 wickets for the Bemerton-based ECB Southern Premier League club.
The former Ealing all-rounder enjoyed a purple patch in early July, taking a personal best 6-21 as Alton were skittled for 44 before lunch and the following week struck a maiden SPL century against Basingstoke & North Hants.
Joe Cranch was 2nd XI player of the year - his 492 runs including a career-best 185* against Langley Manor, plus three other fifty-plus scores - while Henry Smith (in his fresher term at Nottingham University) was the lead third teamer, his 33-wicket haul also winning the Hampshire League County 2 bowling award.  Young James Brewer took 31 wickets in HCL cricket to win the 4th XI award.
Tim Cowley and James Wade, who have taken on a joint groundsman's role at Bemerton, were named senior and junior Clubmen of the Year, while the President's award went to scorer Adrian James.

​The Dorset Cricket Society has announced an attractive programme of speakers for the upcoming 2019/20 winter season, with former Hampshire captain Jimmy Adams, ex-Warwickshire & England opening batsman Dennis Amiss and past Zimbabwe skipper David Houghton all listed to appear in October.
The DCS meets every Thursday afternoon (from 1.45pm) throughout the close season at the Hurn Bridge Social Club, adjoining Christchurch FC and the Hurn Cricket Centre and membership is open to all cricket enthusiasts and comes highly recommended.   
The Dorset Cricket Society website is www.dorsetcricketsociety.co.uk and further details can be obtained from Graham Jones on 01202 248211.  Membership costs a mere £10 per annum and £3 per week.
Jimmy Adams will open the batting on Thursday 17 October, with Dennis Amiss (24 October) and David Houghton on 31 October.  Vic Marks, Paul Downton, Rev Andrew Wingfield-Digby, Alan Fordham (ECB Cricket Operations Manager) and Derek Randall in the subsequent batting order.

​Talented ​opening batsman/wicketkeeper Josh May, pictured celebrating a catch, has been named Basingstoke & North Hants’ Player of the Year. 
​In addition to making 283 runs in a demanding  role, May topped the Southern Premier League Division 2 wicketkeeping charts, with 24 dismissals, 15 catches and nine stumpings. He was awarded player of the year not only for his cricket but for all the help and dedication around the May’s Bounty club. 
​Joe Oates was named 1st XI player of the year.

​Emerging Hampshire Academy all-rounder Scott Currie has been named in a 16-strong England U19 squad set to tour the Caribbean in November and December.  
If the Poole-based prospect does well in the pre-Christmas tri-series against Sri Lanka and the West Indies in Antigua, he could be picked for the ICC Under-19 CWC in South Africa in February.
Currie’s Caribbean selection caps a superb summer for the Currie family. Elder brother Bradley won an ECB Southern Premier League championship winners medal with Bashley (Rydal) and is hot favourite to be named Young Cricketer of the Year.
Also in the England squad are Sussex's Horsham-raised batsman Tom Clark and the hard hitting Sam Young, late of Mark Garaway's Millfield, who played several times for Dorset this summer.
England, who have former Hampshire wicket-keeper Nic Pothas as fielding coach, will play two warm up matches against an Antigua U19 side before taking on Sri Lanka and West Indies in three matches at the Coolidge ground and the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.   The tour begins on December 1.
​Picture: Roy Honeybone.

The Isle of Wight Under-17 side faces the camera before the three-day ECB County Championship match against Wiltshire at Newclose in July 2011.
As a matter of curiosity, how many of these lads are still playing ?

Standing (from left): Ollie Moseley, Tom Groves, Gary Cooper, Jack Lyons, Andy Davis, Henry Bartlett, Jordan Galsworthy. Front: Callum Miller, Harry Bradley, James Cheek, Billy Clark, Sam Rockley. 

Basingstoke & North Hants have received planning permission for a new state-of-the-art sports pavilion to replace the 154-year old building at May’s Bounty.
Basingstoke Sports and Social Club teamed up with architects Ayre Chamberlain Gaunt and project management consultancy PDCM to deliver the £2.6 million pavilion. 
The new look facility, which will serve and overlook both the May’s Bounty and Castle Field grounds, will be fitted with four unisex outdoor changing rooms, two squash changing rooms and two for officials. It also plans to add downstairs changing rooms and toilet facilities, helping to accommodate disabled players. 
As well as the sporting facility as part of the multi-million pound project there will be the inclusion of a new club bar with members’ lounge and a flexible function space with capacity for up to 150 people. 
Ayre Chamberlain Gaunt, based in Basing View, also hopes to bring the standards of May’s Bounty up so that county cricket can once again return to Basingstoke. 
                                                                                              Hub
David Ayre, director of Ayre Chamberlain Gaunt, said: ‘We’ve been involved since very early on in the process working with Basingstoke Sports and Social Club, Hampshire Cricket and the 2 of 2 English Cricket Board so we’re delighted to get the go-ahead for this much-needed local hub for sports.” 
The design of the new facility consists of two carved brick blocks that come together to form a plinth that houses the changing room spaces. 
An external terrace wraps around the first-floor social spaces, providing 360-degree views of the surrounding sports pitches. A folded canopy marks the building as a landmark while sheltering the terrace. 
The grant of planning permission for the new sports pavilion is a timely boost for Basingstoke’s cricketers who are facing the likelihood of their two Southern Premier League teams and their 3rd XI in the Hampshire League all being relegated after a woeful summer. 

​Two promising Southern Premier League prospects, Alton’s Abhay Gonella and Andover batsman/wicketkeeper Alex Ayers have flown to Australia to spend the winter  enhancing their skills in the competitive and demanding arena of New South Wales Premier Cricket in Sydney.
A product of Guildford Royal Grammar School, Gonella [top left] has played for Alton for the past two seasons, hitting six scores of 50 or more in Premier Division matches.
He has deferred a three-year placement at the London School of Economics to join the Campbelltown-Camden Grade club.
Alex Ayers [top right] had a particularly fine summer in domestic cricket, scoring some 1,200 runs for Dauntsey’s School, near Devizes, and almost 500 for Andover, including two centuries, 135 against Rowledge and 122 v Ventnor. 
Ayers, 18, will play for Parramatta, where the late great Richie Benaud cut his teeth in club cricket before going on to captain Australia in 28 of his 63 Tests.
​
* Photo credits - Abhay Gonella (Roy Honeybone) and Alex Ayers (Dave Vokes)

Former Hampshire Academy and Bashley (Rydal) left-arm quick Tom Barber, 24, has been released by Middlesex, having joined the club after a spell with the MCC Young Cricketers.
He made his County Championship debut for Middlesex v Glamorgan in 2018 and twice played T20 matches against Hampshire in front of capacity crowds under the Lord’s floodlights. 
​Barber has spent most of the past season playing Second XI Championship cricket and turned out for Harrow St Mary’s in the ECB Middlesex County League, taking nine wickets in 11 appearances.
On Barber departing the club, Middlesex Managing Director Fraser MBE said: “Tom Barber has the lot as a fast bowler. He is tall, left-arm, fast and has the ability to swing a cricket ball. Some bowlers possess one or two of these assets, very few three or four. 
“Our inability to develop this potential into the finished article, someone who can combine these assets with the ability to consistency hit a challenging length, has been a source of great frustration to everybody. Tom is a cracking lad who has worked hard and managed himself extremely well at Middlesex, and we wish him the best of luck in the next stage of his career.”
Barber himself commented: “I would like to thank the club for the opportunity, the fans and members for their ongoing support and would like to wish Middlesex every success moving forward”.
* The county rumour mill suggests that Barber could be joining Derbyshire.

Lymington stalwart Tony Wharton has been awarded a life-time achievement award at the NatWest Outstanding Service to Cricket Awards (OSCA) at the Ageas Bowl.
Tony, who has spent 30 years tirelessly working to improve cricket through the New Forest and particular his former clubs Langley Manor and New Milton and current club Lymington, received 41 per cent of the votes to attain the award ahead of Ray Holyer [Hampshire Association of Cricket Officials] and long serving Hursley Park cricketer and groundman Chris Westbrook.
Over and above his sterling work at Lymington, where he is treasurer and frequently first team scorer, Tony has been an ever present helping and coaching young cricketers. He was made a life member of the club in 2014. He has been treasurer of the Southern League and is president and former chairman of the South Hants Indoor Cricket League at Eastleigh.  
A carefree and cavalier opening batsman (and dibley dobley bowler) in his playing days, Tony Wharton has played cricket worldwide and once scored a century at Ventura on the Bournemouth & South Hampshire tour to California in 1989.  He is pictured in his prime chilling out after a long bowling stint at the Isolation Cavaliers ground in the West Indies, where he once worked and grew bananas.
 

Gosport Borough cricketer Jordyn Dore has been selected for England’s Learning Disability squad for the International Federation for Intellectual Impairment Sport (INAS) Global Games in Brisbane next month.
The Global Games will see more than 1,000 of the world’s best athletes with an intellectual impairment compete across nine sports at some of Brisbane’s iconic international sporting venues.
The Borough player and coach first impressed in Chance to Shine sessions at Baycroft School back in 2013, and was selected to join Hampshire's award-winning Irwin Mitchell Disability Programme.
Jordyn was part of Hampshire's disability team who were national champions in 2017 and 2018, Gosport's second team in the Hampshire Cricket League, as well as coaching the club's under 9s, women's softball and sessions run by the club's innovative "Privett Pavilion" community cafe.
“This is a great opportunity. It's been my goal from the start to represent England. Now having the chance to do it in Brisbane it's just amazing and the support has been brilliant which is really appreciated,” he said.
Nick Wheeler (Head Coach, Hampshire D40 Disability Squad) added: “I could not be prouder from a coach’s point of view. His dedication and hard work has shown the last two years and his selection is very much deserved.”
England and Wales Cricket Board are fully funding Jordyn, but his father Gary also needs to make the month-long trip due to the distance and duration.
If you would like to support the cost of Gary's travel and accommodation, this page - www.gofundme.com/f/help-get-jordan-to-australia - has been set up to which you can donate.

Tom Friend’s silverware haul continues to grow. Already a championship medal winner with Bashley (Rydal), Ventnor raised Friend has won the ECB Southern Premier Division batting award with 621 runs – and has now been named August ‘Cricketer of the Month’ by www.vimpsatthecrease.com website, the monthly awards being made in conjunction with Cricket-Hockey.com, the Downton-based sports equipment specialists.
​Friend began the month with a half-century against Alton, made three separate scores of 30 or more, but more specifically hit an unbeaten 84 against Bournemouth, an innings that secured the title for Bashley (Rydal).

Sarisbury Athletic’s Village Cup semi-final conquerors, Hertfordshire League club Reed carried off the trophy for a third time at Lord’s on Sunday – but their celebrations were dampened by a serious eye injury sustained by Houghton Main opening batsman Ian Simon.
Simon was not wearing a helmet when he hooked a short ball into his eye. He was rushed to hospital for tests, and underwent an operation to drain blood from the area. He had broken his cheekbone in several places. Fortunately, he remained conscious, and was asking for updates on the score from hospital.
With their opening batsman retiring hurt, Houghton Main managed just 160-8, and the team from the former colliery near Barnsley were unable to defend the modest target on a pacey Lord’s pitch on a warm September day, losing by seven wickets, with Reed skipper Tom Greaves hitting 67 not out and left-hander Rob Lankester 59.
Reed, fresh from clinching promotion to the Saracens Hertfordshire Premier League in 2020,  join Troon and St Fagan’s in lifting the Village Cup three times, having done so in 2012 and 2017. Only Woodhouse Grange (four) have won it more times than the Hertfordshire club.
The match took a worrying turn in the 13th over when a short of a length delivery which rose unexpectedly and Simon deflected it into his eye. Medical staff, along with Houghton Main’s No.4 batsman and neurosurgeon Dr Yousaf Rehman (who had just been dismissed) rushed onto the pitch to attend to Simon. There was a 20-minute break in play while he was stretchered off and taken to St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, accompanied by his family. He was set to remain in hospital for at least five days.
* The ECB’s Royal London national club championship final between Nantwich and Swardeston is at Lord’s on Monday, noon.