The region’s cricket starved enthusiasts will at long last have some competitive action to watch on Saturday when the Southern Premier League’s newly created 40-over League Cup competition begins.
Fifteen matches (starting at 12.30pm) are set to take place across the area, with the teams split into Premier/Division 1 and Division 2/3 east and west divisions.
The competition will run for nine successive Saturdays until September 12, with the top teams in the divisions playing a final a week later on September 19.
There will be something unusual about the cricket – the teams will be virtually bereft of overseas players, who frequently have a significant impact on matches.
Cape Town all-rounder Hilio de Abreu, now domiciled in the UK, may be the only foreigner in action tomorrow. He plays for Burridge against Portsmouth at St Helen’s on Southsea seafront.
Eighteen SPL clubs had originally lined up overseas aid this summer, but the coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent suspension of recreational cricket across the country led to plans being cancelled and all the visiting players remaining in the southern hemisphere.
Arrival
With no promotion or relegation involved, most clubs are using the League Cup to blood promising young players, among them Burridge and Lymington, who go to Calmore Sports.
Hilio De Abreu, pictured, who scored close on 700 runs and took almost 40 wickets in all cricket for Burridge last season, is expected to lead his side against Portsmouth.
All rounder Jack Paskins, an arrival from nearby Locks Heath, debuts along with Millfield’s Francis Moore, a right-arm pace bowler.
Burridge: Joe Collings- Wells, Shu Chowdury, Hilio De Abreu, Chris Blake, James Hughes, Dan Stancliffe, Jack Paskins, Dan Damley- Jones, Sully White, Francis Moore, Alec Damley-Jones.
Prominent Sway duo Dan and Josh Bailey are among five debutants listed in a youthful Lymington line-up at Loperwood Park, where hosts Calmore Sports field Hampshire media supremo Will Brewster and Ben Fisher, previously with South Wilts.
Calmore Sports: Johns, Brewster, Moss, Fisher, Manning, Taylor, Lavelle, Perry, Newton, Stanton, Lepervanche.
Lymington: Freeman, Robertson, Scott, Hand, Rogers, Royan, D Bailey, Hart, J Bailey, Ingles, Tollerfield.
Continuing the young player theme, Rowledge give a first outing to 15-yerar old Ethan Martin against Sparsholt at Church Road.
Rowledge: B Wish, C Yates Jnr, S Plater, R Yates, O Baker, J Wish, J Sebborn, J Randall, W Ryman, D Lloyd, E Martin.
Fifteen matches (starting at 12.30pm) are set to take place across the area, with the teams split into Premier/Division 1 and Division 2/3 east and west divisions.
The competition will run for nine successive Saturdays until September 12, with the top teams in the divisions playing a final a week later on September 19.
There will be something unusual about the cricket – the teams will be virtually bereft of overseas players, who frequently have a significant impact on matches.
Cape Town all-rounder Hilio de Abreu, now domiciled in the UK, may be the only foreigner in action tomorrow. He plays for Burridge against Portsmouth at St Helen’s on Southsea seafront.
Eighteen SPL clubs had originally lined up overseas aid this summer, but the coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent suspension of recreational cricket across the country led to plans being cancelled and all the visiting players remaining in the southern hemisphere.
Arrival
With no promotion or relegation involved, most clubs are using the League Cup to blood promising young players, among them Burridge and Lymington, who go to Calmore Sports.
Hilio De Abreu, pictured, who scored close on 700 runs and took almost 40 wickets in all cricket for Burridge last season, is expected to lead his side against Portsmouth.
All rounder Jack Paskins, an arrival from nearby Locks Heath, debuts along with Millfield’s Francis Moore, a right-arm pace bowler.
Burridge: Joe Collings- Wells, Shu Chowdury, Hilio De Abreu, Chris Blake, James Hughes, Dan Stancliffe, Jack Paskins, Dan Damley- Jones, Sully White, Francis Moore, Alec Damley-Jones.
Prominent Sway duo Dan and Josh Bailey are among five debutants listed in a youthful Lymington line-up at Loperwood Park, where hosts Calmore Sports field Hampshire media supremo Will Brewster and Ben Fisher, previously with South Wilts.
Calmore Sports: Johns, Brewster, Moss, Fisher, Manning, Taylor, Lavelle, Perry, Newton, Stanton, Lepervanche.
Lymington: Freeman, Robertson, Scott, Hand, Rogers, Royan, D Bailey, Hart, J Bailey, Ingles, Tollerfield.
Continuing the young player theme, Rowledge give a first outing to 15-yerar old Ethan Martin against Sparsholt at Church Road.
Rowledge: B Wish, C Yates Jnr, S Plater, R Yates, O Baker, J Wish, J Sebborn, J Randall, W Ryman, D Lloyd, E Martin.