Jake Lilley - New Milton bound [Terry Nash picture]
Paceman Jake Lilley has crossed the Great Divide to join arch ECB Southern Premier Division rivals New Milton from Bashley (Rydal).
Lilley, 26, described it as “a hard decision to leave Bashley, where I’ve played since a kid, but I still want to play Premier Division cricket.
“There wasn’t the opportunity to play first team cricket at Bashley last season and I don’t think there will be (for me) this summer.”
Talking about his move a half-mile down the road to New Milton, Lilley said: “I didn’t really see any other club to join.
“I know pretty much all the guys that play there and they are all decent blokes. “I think bowling with George Watts could be a decent combination and its something I’m looking forward to.”
Lilley has played 107 times for Bashley at first and second team level, taking a combined total of 113 wickets, in addition to his 32 scalps in a two-year spell with the Hampshire Academy.
Ironically, Jake’s father Sean, now a lead Premier League umpire, made the journey in the opposite direction over 30 years ago, leaving the Green & Golds, his first club, for Bashley (Rydal).
Lilley, 26, described it as “a hard decision to leave Bashley, where I’ve played since a kid, but I still want to play Premier Division cricket.
“There wasn’t the opportunity to play first team cricket at Bashley last season and I don’t think there will be (for me) this summer.”
Talking about his move a half-mile down the road to New Milton, Lilley said: “I didn’t really see any other club to join.
“I know pretty much all the guys that play there and they are all decent blokes. “I think bowling with George Watts could be a decent combination and its something I’m looking forward to.”
Lilley has played 107 times for Bashley at first and second team level, taking a combined total of 113 wickets, in addition to his 32 scalps in a two-year spell with the Hampshire Academy.
Ironically, Jake’s father Sean, now a lead Premier League umpire, made the journey in the opposite direction over 30 years ago, leaving the Green & Golds, his first club, for Bashley (Rydal).
