Newly promoted Portsmouth will have a new captain at the helm and a talented young Australian aboard when they launch their Southern Premier League Division 1 campaign against relegated Totton & Eling at St Helen’s, Southsea, on May 7.
Richard Locke has succeeded Dave Henderson as captain – his predecessor having won the SPL3 and 2 titles in the past three years – while teenager Fraser Hay, a hard hitting batsman from the Melville Grade club in Perth, is the Southsea club’s overseas recruit. Highly effective in striking the ball a long way, Hay plays regularly in Melville’s First Grade side in the WACA pennant and has just helped the club win the Under-21 pennant.
Hay, pictured, comes from the same Melville stable as Australia Test batsman Adam Voges, Drew Porter, Brad Thompson and Luke Towers, all of whom played SPL cricket in the past. He is also a handy right-arm seam bowler.
Portsmouth have also signed James Christian from Havant and expect the bulk of their younger players to travel back from university when the season begins.
“The club continues to prosper and rebuild. Dave Henderson will be an incredibly be tough act to follow, but we are confident we can hold our own in SPL1 with the squad we are assembling,” Locke says.
Portsmouth, who celebrate 175 years of cricket in the city with a match against the MCC on June 26, open their season at Merrow on Saturday before hosting Lymington in the ECB Royal London national club championships at St Helen’s on Sunday, 1pm.
Richard Locke has succeeded Dave Henderson as captain – his predecessor having won the SPL3 and 2 titles in the past three years – while teenager Fraser Hay, a hard hitting batsman from the Melville Grade club in Perth, is the Southsea club’s overseas recruit. Highly effective in striking the ball a long way, Hay plays regularly in Melville’s First Grade side in the WACA pennant and has just helped the club win the Under-21 pennant.
Hay, pictured, comes from the same Melville stable as Australia Test batsman Adam Voges, Drew Porter, Brad Thompson and Luke Towers, all of whom played SPL cricket in the past. He is also a handy right-arm seam bowler.
Portsmouth have also signed James Christian from Havant and expect the bulk of their younger players to travel back from university when the season begins.
“The club continues to prosper and rebuild. Dave Henderson will be an incredibly be tough act to follow, but we are confident we can hold our own in SPL1 with the squad we are assembling,” Locke says.
Portsmouth, who celebrate 175 years of cricket in the city with a match against the MCC on June 26, open their season at Merrow on Saturday before hosting Lymington in the ECB Royal London national club championships at St Helen’s on Sunday, 1pm.
