MICHAEL Porter says lightning left-arm paceman Tom Barber will have a “point to prove” when Bashley (Rydal) clash with Hampshire Academy on the Ageas Bowl Nursery Ground, 11am.
Barber was released by the county two years ago but hit back to win a pro contract with champions Middlesex this season.
The 21-year-old produced a devastating four-wicket salvo to rip through Andover’s top order last week and is now set to turn his guns on his former club in the Premier Division contest, writes Paul McNamara..
Skipper Porter insists Bash cannot afford to slip up at the Ageas Bowl, with victory potentially enough to propel them to the summit, if leaders Lymington come unstuck on their trip to Havant.
He said: “We have to make some changes to the team but it will be just as strong as the one that beat Andover.
“Tom is still available and I am sure it is a game he is looking forward to after being released by Hampshire a couple of years ago. I imagine he has a bit of a point to prove to them.
“We know the academy have a lot of players back this week so are going to be tougher opposition than they have been recently.
“But it is a game we want to dominate. They are all young, talented lads – that is why they are in the academy system. Their batters have the potential to produce a match-winning innings and the bowlers can all deliver decisive spells.
“We can not just turn up and walk it. We will have to really apply ourselves.
"And with Lymington at Havant, it makes it twice as important for us to not drop points.”
Porter says Bash’s cause will be further boosted by the return of spinner Sam Thomson, pictured by Terry Nash above. And he confirmed the club are doing all they can to cling on to overseas star Pat Page for as long as possible.
“We definitely have Pat for the next five weeks, at least,” added Porter. “We were told at the start of the year he would have to go back to Australia for pre-season games but we are doing our very best to prolong his stay.
“Having Sam back is a huge bonus. Although we have won big in the past couple of weeks, he is a huge influence around the changing room. And he has been our best bowler in recent years.”
The match has an interesting sub-plot, with the teenage Currie brothers, Bradley and Scott playing – and bowling – against each other.
“From back yard Test cricket to the real thing,” elder sibling Bradley called it.
“We have some pretty serious contests in the back garden at home, believe me and we’ll both be saving some overs for each other,” he laughed.
Academy: F Organ, Kantolinna, Scriven, Cole, Middleton, Searle, South, Z Organ, Sole, S Currie, Campbell.
Bashley (Rydal): Porter, Digby, S Ridley, Page, Jacques, C Ridley, Thomson, Wilson, Watkins, B Currie, Barber.
Barber was released by the county two years ago but hit back to win a pro contract with champions Middlesex this season.
The 21-year-old produced a devastating four-wicket salvo to rip through Andover’s top order last week and is now set to turn his guns on his former club in the Premier Division contest, writes Paul McNamara..
Skipper Porter insists Bash cannot afford to slip up at the Ageas Bowl, with victory potentially enough to propel them to the summit, if leaders Lymington come unstuck on their trip to Havant.
He said: “We have to make some changes to the team but it will be just as strong as the one that beat Andover.
“Tom is still available and I am sure it is a game he is looking forward to after being released by Hampshire a couple of years ago. I imagine he has a bit of a point to prove to them.
“We know the academy have a lot of players back this week so are going to be tougher opposition than they have been recently.
“But it is a game we want to dominate. They are all young, talented lads – that is why they are in the academy system. Their batters have the potential to produce a match-winning innings and the bowlers can all deliver decisive spells.
“We can not just turn up and walk it. We will have to really apply ourselves.
"And with Lymington at Havant, it makes it twice as important for us to not drop points.”
Porter says Bash’s cause will be further boosted by the return of spinner Sam Thomson, pictured by Terry Nash above. And he confirmed the club are doing all they can to cling on to overseas star Pat Page for as long as possible.
“We definitely have Pat for the next five weeks, at least,” added Porter. “We were told at the start of the year he would have to go back to Australia for pre-season games but we are doing our very best to prolong his stay.
“Having Sam back is a huge bonus. Although we have won big in the past couple of weeks, he is a huge influence around the changing room. And he has been our best bowler in recent years.”
The match has an interesting sub-plot, with the teenage Currie brothers, Bradley and Scott playing – and bowling – against each other.
“From back yard Test cricket to the real thing,” elder sibling Bradley called it.
“We have some pretty serious contests in the back garden at home, believe me and we’ll both be saving some overs for each other,” he laughed.
Academy: F Organ, Kantolinna, Scriven, Cole, Middleton, Searle, South, Z Organ, Sole, S Currie, Campbell.
Bashley (Rydal): Porter, Digby, S Ridley, Page, Jacques, C Ridley, Thomson, Wilson, Watkins, B Currie, Barber.