Seamer Ed Bartlett has accepted the challenge of leading New Milton's bid to bounce back from last season's disastrous Southern Premier Division 1 relegation campaign.
He won't have former skipper George Watts - now based on the Isle of Wight and playing for Ventnor - at his side, but Bartlett will be boosted by a South African batter/spin bowler from Cape Town.
Thaakir David, a 20-year old top order batsman and spin bowler, has joined New Milton from the Western Province CA side Rylands.
Bartlett, who switched from his home town club Wimborne three seasons ago after covid, has remained loyal to the Green & Golds despite last season's relegation which saw the Fernhill club win only one game.
With 48 SPL wickets under his belt in three seasons and a place in Dorset's attack up for grabs, he might easily have been attracted to join neighbours Bashley (Rydal) or Bournemouth.
But instead he's taken the captain's armband to play at Fernhill.
Thaakir David hails from Wynberg Boys High School (where South Africa Test great Jacques Kallis was educated) and spent the 2023 UK summer playing for Warrington in the third tier of the Cheshire County League.
He made over 500 league runs and took 33 wickets, but was unable to prevent Warrington from finishing bottom of Division 3.
David was unable to shrug off the losers tag when he returned to the Cape - Rylands finishing last in the competitive Western Province CA competition.
The 20-year old will want to avoid a hat-trick of relegations this summer ...
He won't have former skipper George Watts - now based on the Isle of Wight and playing for Ventnor - at his side, but Bartlett will be boosted by a South African batter/spin bowler from Cape Town.
Thaakir David, a 20-year old top order batsman and spin bowler, has joined New Milton from the Western Province CA side Rylands.
Bartlett, who switched from his home town club Wimborne three seasons ago after covid, has remained loyal to the Green & Golds despite last season's relegation which saw the Fernhill club win only one game.
With 48 SPL wickets under his belt in three seasons and a place in Dorset's attack up for grabs, he might easily have been attracted to join neighbours Bashley (Rydal) or Bournemouth.
But instead he's taken the captain's armband to play at Fernhill.
Thaakir David hails from Wynberg Boys High School (where South Africa Test great Jacques Kallis was educated) and spent the 2023 UK summer playing for Warrington in the third tier of the Cheshire County League.
He made over 500 league runs and took 33 wickets, but was unable to prevent Warrington from finishing bottom of Division 3.
David was unable to shrug off the losers tag when he returned to the Cape - Rylands finishing last in the competitive Western Province CA competition.
The 20-year old will want to avoid a hat-trick of relegations this summer ...