Andover, Premier Division 1 champions 2016
Continuity is the name of the game for newly promoted Andover this summer as they go full steam ahead into the ECB British Gas Southern Premier League after last season’s dramatic final day Division 1 title triumph.
Apart from a couple of new faces, captain Matt Hooper names a largely unchanged squad from the promotion winning side.
But overseas player James O’Gorman has departed - to London for work - and his would-be replacement, former New Zealand U19 pace bowler Kyle Jamieson suffered a broken foot which has prevented him from coming to the UK.
Two new recruits have been signed to plug the O’Gorman gap, spinner Sayeem Waliullah and wicketkeeper/batsman Dave Watson.
Ex-army Waliullah has travelled around the world playing cricket and his first-class experience could be crucial in the all-day cricket.
Watson is another army signing, joining the ACC ranks with current players Storm Green and Craig Ross, and is a steady middle-order batsman with a safe pair of hands behind the stumps.
Experienced duo, Ali Hooper and Glyn Treagus remain at the top of the order with Treagus particularly hungry to build on last year’s 721 runs that saw him win the SPL1 batting prize.
In the bowling department, Babu Veetil and Mike Adams look likely to take the new seed. The pair ripped out 61 wickets between them last summer and have the pleasure of bowling with the white ball this season in the new one-day format. Spinners Matt Hooper and Danny Foy look to reunite their partnership and will no doubt enjoy the freedom of being able to bowl more overs in the all-day cricket.
Hooper will have a selection headache with the middle order as plenty of the squad, packed with young talent, impressed in the recent inter-club match. Ex-Etonian Josh Ballantyne-Dykes, Cardiff Uni’s Max Souter, last season’s middle-order hero Matt Knight, the departing second XI skipper Harry Blackburn, school teacher Martin Roberts, plus Craig Ross and youngster Olly Cox, will all by eyeing up the 5 and 6 spots in the middle order.
The side play two more friendly warm-up fixtures against Hartley Wintney and Basingstoke before hosting St Cross Symondians in the opening SPL 50-over match at London Road on May 6. For the first time ever, the SPL is trialling coloured clothing and white ball cricket in what will be an exciting development for the local cricket.
Apart from a couple of new faces, captain Matt Hooper names a largely unchanged squad from the promotion winning side.
But overseas player James O’Gorman has departed - to London for work - and his would-be replacement, former New Zealand U19 pace bowler Kyle Jamieson suffered a broken foot which has prevented him from coming to the UK.
Two new recruits have been signed to plug the O’Gorman gap, spinner Sayeem Waliullah and wicketkeeper/batsman Dave Watson.
Ex-army Waliullah has travelled around the world playing cricket and his first-class experience could be crucial in the all-day cricket.
Watson is another army signing, joining the ACC ranks with current players Storm Green and Craig Ross, and is a steady middle-order batsman with a safe pair of hands behind the stumps.
Experienced duo, Ali Hooper and Glyn Treagus remain at the top of the order with Treagus particularly hungry to build on last year’s 721 runs that saw him win the SPL1 batting prize.
In the bowling department, Babu Veetil and Mike Adams look likely to take the new seed. The pair ripped out 61 wickets between them last summer and have the pleasure of bowling with the white ball this season in the new one-day format. Spinners Matt Hooper and Danny Foy look to reunite their partnership and will no doubt enjoy the freedom of being able to bowl more overs in the all-day cricket.
Hooper will have a selection headache with the middle order as plenty of the squad, packed with young talent, impressed in the recent inter-club match. Ex-Etonian Josh Ballantyne-Dykes, Cardiff Uni’s Max Souter, last season’s middle-order hero Matt Knight, the departing second XI skipper Harry Blackburn, school teacher Martin Roberts, plus Craig Ross and youngster Olly Cox, will all by eyeing up the 5 and 6 spots in the middle order.
The side play two more friendly warm-up fixtures against Hartley Wintney and Basingstoke before hosting St Cross Symondians in the opening SPL 50-over match at London Road on May 6. For the first time ever, the SPL is trialling coloured clothing and white ball cricket in what will be an exciting development for the local cricket.
