Josh Croom fired up to face his South Wilts clubmates [Roy Honeybone]
Eighteen-year old fast bowling prospect Josh Croom is praying the rain says away from Bemerton so he can open the bowling for the Hampshire Academy against his South Wilts clubmates at Wilton Road, 11.30.
“I’ve been training with the South Wilts lads for the past month, so now its time for the real thing,” smiled the Stratford-sub-Castle left-arm quick, who is in the first year of his Ageas Bowl academy contract.
“I’ve been a junior at South Wilts since I started playing, so there will be plenty riding on it. I’ll want to get them out and they won’t me dismissing them.
“It’s President’s Day at South Wilts. A lot of the guys there have backed me so I want to do well.”
It could be a significant game for both sides, particularly South Wilts, who are only two points off top spot behind Bournemouth in the ECB Southern Premier Division.
“We’re in fifth place and have lost the same number of games (three) as South Wilts. We’re only 13 points behind them,” Croom added.
South Wilts will be without skipper Ben Draper and Tom Morton, so James Hayward will don the armband and Sam Pittman wear the wicketkeeping gloves.
South Wilts: Stearman, Mynott, Rowe, Hayward Hussey, Godsal, Huntley, Pittman, Warner, Grant, Burton.
Academy: Albert, Mumford, Fontaine-Jackson, Broderick, Eckland, Kelly, Prichard, Trodd, Croom, Jack, Khanna.
Bournemouth, clinging on to top spot by their fingertips after two defeats in their last three matches, are unchanged for the tricky visit to full strength Burridge, who rolled Bashley (Rydal) over last weekend.
Skipper Chris Park is desperate for his batsmen to start making some runs, with only Luke Webb (334), Nick Park (237) and Luke Matthews (187) having made over 150 runs so far.
Burridge: Joe Collings-Wells, Shu Chowdhury, James Hughes, Hilio De Abreu, Matthew Norris, Will Donald, Dan Stancliffe, Oli Southon, Will Candy, Sullivan White, Francis Moore.
Bournemouth: C Park, Webb, N Park, Matthews, Woodruff, Hurley, Denham, Pack, Conway, Brecken, Oldfield.
St Cross Symondians have Tom Foyle back for Havant’s visit to the Green Jackets, but Brad Taylor (back) is injured. No Harry Gadd or Ben Walker for Havant.
St Cross Symondians: Booth, Ellis, Haworth, Haworth, Bransgrove, Braans, Beetham, Lewis, Foyle, Foyle, Trussler
Havant: Simon Loat, Peter Hopson, Chris Morgan, Charlie Whitfield, Richard Hindley, Jez Bulled, Julian Atkins, Alfie Taw, Richard Jerry, Freddie Gadd, Will Uddy.
Its last chance saloon day for Hook & Newnham Basics, who simply must beat Alton at the Jubilee Ground if they are to stay up.
Ben Thane is back for Hook, but Matt Buckingham is unavailable. Max Simpson’s return should sharpen their attack.
Alton, who have Tom South, Jack Myers and Mark Heffernan all back, hope Jude Wright can reproduce his outstanding county U18 form in the SPL arena.
Alton: Harris, Gonella, South, S Myers, Wright, Heffernan, Egleston, Walters, Salmon, J Myers, Ballinger.
Hook & Newnham Basics: J Buckingham, Thane, Robson, Lockwood, Hobday, Willcock, Murrell, Divecha, Moore, Balcombe, Simpson.
Lymington stalwart Tony Wharton continues to be an absentee at the Sports Ground, where Bashley (Rydal) are the visitors. The 78-year old has been in Southampton General Hospital (Ward E8 for the chocolates) for the past 13 days. He is undergoing tests, but is in good spirits. There is no team news from either camp.
Only a fraction of a point separates leaders Calmore Sports and Totton & Eling at the top of Division 1. The pair have home games.
Voneus Village Cup semi-finalists Calmore Sports host bottom of the pile Sarisbury Athletic, with Ben Fisher added to the side that beat Rockhampton last weekend.
Sarisbury are thinking hard to elevating all-rounder Rob Franklin into a top four berth, having made an unbeaten 50 against Andover, but arriving at the crease too late for his knock to be effective.
Calmore Sports: Johns, Brewster, Taylor, Johnson, Manning, Lavelle, Bailey, Fisher, West, S Wright, L. Carty.
Sarisbury Athletic: J Hill, Rawlins, Bolton, Lovett, Motola, Franklin, Sanbders, Orr, S Hill, Jewell, J Wright.
Totton & Eling appear to have a tougher test against enigmatic Portsmouth, while fast rising Basingstoke & North Hants host Sparsholt, who have Channel Islander Jerry Frith in their side for the first time since August 2019. He’s been marooned in Guernsey since then.
Rowledge need to halt a lean run when they visit second from bottom Andover, where Richard Forbes plays instead of injured Hampshire Under-16 pace bowler Ethan Martin.
Rowledge: B Wish, J Wish, Sebborn, Plater, Baker, Le Roux, R Yates, W Ryman, Littlewood, Forbes, Lloyd.
New Milton received St Cross Symondians II in the other SPL1 match.
“I’ve been training with the South Wilts lads for the past month, so now its time for the real thing,” smiled the Stratford-sub-Castle left-arm quick, who is in the first year of his Ageas Bowl academy contract.
“I’ve been a junior at South Wilts since I started playing, so there will be plenty riding on it. I’ll want to get them out and they won’t me dismissing them.
“It’s President’s Day at South Wilts. A lot of the guys there have backed me so I want to do well.”
It could be a significant game for both sides, particularly South Wilts, who are only two points off top spot behind Bournemouth in the ECB Southern Premier Division.
“We’re in fifth place and have lost the same number of games (three) as South Wilts. We’re only 13 points behind them,” Croom added.
South Wilts will be without skipper Ben Draper and Tom Morton, so James Hayward will don the armband and Sam Pittman wear the wicketkeeping gloves.
South Wilts: Stearman, Mynott, Rowe, Hayward Hussey, Godsal, Huntley, Pittman, Warner, Grant, Burton.
Academy: Albert, Mumford, Fontaine-Jackson, Broderick, Eckland, Kelly, Prichard, Trodd, Croom, Jack, Khanna.
Bournemouth, clinging on to top spot by their fingertips after two defeats in their last three matches, are unchanged for the tricky visit to full strength Burridge, who rolled Bashley (Rydal) over last weekend.
Skipper Chris Park is desperate for his batsmen to start making some runs, with only Luke Webb (334), Nick Park (237) and Luke Matthews (187) having made over 150 runs so far.
Burridge: Joe Collings-Wells, Shu Chowdhury, James Hughes, Hilio De Abreu, Matthew Norris, Will Donald, Dan Stancliffe, Oli Southon, Will Candy, Sullivan White, Francis Moore.
Bournemouth: C Park, Webb, N Park, Matthews, Woodruff, Hurley, Denham, Pack, Conway, Brecken, Oldfield.
St Cross Symondians have Tom Foyle back for Havant’s visit to the Green Jackets, but Brad Taylor (back) is injured. No Harry Gadd or Ben Walker for Havant.
St Cross Symondians: Booth, Ellis, Haworth, Haworth, Bransgrove, Braans, Beetham, Lewis, Foyle, Foyle, Trussler
Havant: Simon Loat, Peter Hopson, Chris Morgan, Charlie Whitfield, Richard Hindley, Jez Bulled, Julian Atkins, Alfie Taw, Richard Jerry, Freddie Gadd, Will Uddy.
Its last chance saloon day for Hook & Newnham Basics, who simply must beat Alton at the Jubilee Ground if they are to stay up.
Ben Thane is back for Hook, but Matt Buckingham is unavailable. Max Simpson’s return should sharpen their attack.
Alton, who have Tom South, Jack Myers and Mark Heffernan all back, hope Jude Wright can reproduce his outstanding county U18 form in the SPL arena.
Alton: Harris, Gonella, South, S Myers, Wright, Heffernan, Egleston, Walters, Salmon, J Myers, Ballinger.
Hook & Newnham Basics: J Buckingham, Thane, Robson, Lockwood, Hobday, Willcock, Murrell, Divecha, Moore, Balcombe, Simpson.
Lymington stalwart Tony Wharton continues to be an absentee at the Sports Ground, where Bashley (Rydal) are the visitors. The 78-year old has been in Southampton General Hospital (Ward E8 for the chocolates) for the past 13 days. He is undergoing tests, but is in good spirits. There is no team news from either camp.
Only a fraction of a point separates leaders Calmore Sports and Totton & Eling at the top of Division 1. The pair have home games.
Voneus Village Cup semi-finalists Calmore Sports host bottom of the pile Sarisbury Athletic, with Ben Fisher added to the side that beat Rockhampton last weekend.
Sarisbury are thinking hard to elevating all-rounder Rob Franklin into a top four berth, having made an unbeaten 50 against Andover, but arriving at the crease too late for his knock to be effective.
Calmore Sports: Johns, Brewster, Taylor, Johnson, Manning, Lavelle, Bailey, Fisher, West, S Wright, L. Carty.
Sarisbury Athletic: J Hill, Rawlins, Bolton, Lovett, Motola, Franklin, Sanbders, Orr, S Hill, Jewell, J Wright.
Totton & Eling appear to have a tougher test against enigmatic Portsmouth, while fast rising Basingstoke & North Hants host Sparsholt, who have Channel Islander Jerry Frith in their side for the first time since August 2019. He’s been marooned in Guernsey since then.
Rowledge need to halt a lean run when they visit second from bottom Andover, where Richard Forbes plays instead of injured Hampshire Under-16 pace bowler Ethan Martin.
Rowledge: B Wish, J Wish, Sebborn, Plater, Baker, Le Roux, R Yates, W Ryman, Littlewood, Forbes, Lloyd.
New Milton received St Cross Symondians II in the other SPL1 match.
Hartley Wintney remained top of Division 2 despite losing heavily to South Wilts II last week, but will find Fair Oak no pushovers as Charlie Gwynn’s side has one last chance to clamber back into the promotion picture.
Liphook & Ripsley visit mid-table Waterlooville, who have Sam Hillman (left) and Jon Hudson back after missing the six-wicket defeat at Ventnor.
Waterlooville: Archie Reynolds, Alex Shephard, Tim Jackson, Sonny Reynolds, Dan Birch, Namish Verma, Jon Hudson, Sam Robinson, Ashan Silva, , Harry McBride, Sam Hillman.
OTs & Romsey host relegation battlers Fawley, while Bashley (Rydal) need to get something off visiting Ventnor at the BCG if they are to arrest their slide.
Paultons, jammed on the bottom, receive South Wilts II, who will be anxious to dismiss Nathan Feltham as quick as they can.
Last season when the teams met in the Southern League Cup, Feltham hit them for 147 in one of the most ferocious knocks ever seen in local cricket.
Paultons are without Scott Dawes, Tony Richman and Josh Metcalfe.
Paultons: Simon Ennew, Lee Wateridge, Cameron Grierson, Ben Rogers, Nathan Feltham, Robert Pike, Liam Longland, Darryn Stairs, Peter Lamb, Harmon Chadhoke, Andrew Denney.
Unbeaten Division 3 leaders Hambledon can more or less wrap up the title if they beat third placed Gosport Borough at Privett Park.
Teenage duo Ed Moger and opening bowler James Restall are included by the Dons, who are 36 points clear at the top.
Hambledon: Le Clerq, Glanfield, McGovern, Pratt, Moger, Butcher, Oliver, Restall, Harding, Khan.
Second placed Hook & Newnham Basics, beaten at Ridge Meadow last week, will favour a Hambledon win to strengthen their hold on a potential runners-up position.
Hook will have Shaun Brewer leading their attack and both Alex Brown and Matt Love down from the first team to face relegation strugglers Hythe & Dibden, who are minus Zac Millar.
Hook & Newnham Basics: Light, Warner, T May, Brown, Love, Neville, James, Bruin, Gardner, Brewer, Shore.
Hythe & Dibden: T Richards, T Gates, M Young, J Stovell, W Mckay, D Taylor, T Jones, A Oliver, N Vaughan, B Holbrook, D Jones.
Fourth placed Langley Manor go to Trojans, Portsmouth & Southsea entertain Basingstoke & North Hants II, while Purbrook play Tichborne Park in a crucial relegation showdown at The Heath.
Liphook & Ripsley visit mid-table Waterlooville, who have Sam Hillman (left) and Jon Hudson back after missing the six-wicket defeat at Ventnor.
Waterlooville: Archie Reynolds, Alex Shephard, Tim Jackson, Sonny Reynolds, Dan Birch, Namish Verma, Jon Hudson, Sam Robinson, Ashan Silva, , Harry McBride, Sam Hillman.
OTs & Romsey host relegation battlers Fawley, while Bashley (Rydal) need to get something off visiting Ventnor at the BCG if they are to arrest their slide.
Paultons, jammed on the bottom, receive South Wilts II, who will be anxious to dismiss Nathan Feltham as quick as they can.
Last season when the teams met in the Southern League Cup, Feltham hit them for 147 in one of the most ferocious knocks ever seen in local cricket.
Paultons are without Scott Dawes, Tony Richman and Josh Metcalfe.
Paultons: Simon Ennew, Lee Wateridge, Cameron Grierson, Ben Rogers, Nathan Feltham, Robert Pike, Liam Longland, Darryn Stairs, Peter Lamb, Harmon Chadhoke, Andrew Denney.
Unbeaten Division 3 leaders Hambledon can more or less wrap up the title if they beat third placed Gosport Borough at Privett Park.
Teenage duo Ed Moger and opening bowler James Restall are included by the Dons, who are 36 points clear at the top.
Hambledon: Le Clerq, Glanfield, McGovern, Pratt, Moger, Butcher, Oliver, Restall, Harding, Khan.
Second placed Hook & Newnham Basics, beaten at Ridge Meadow last week, will favour a Hambledon win to strengthen their hold on a potential runners-up position.
Hook will have Shaun Brewer leading their attack and both Alex Brown and Matt Love down from the first team to face relegation strugglers Hythe & Dibden, who are minus Zac Millar.
Hook & Newnham Basics: Light, Warner, T May, Brown, Love, Neville, James, Bruin, Gardner, Brewer, Shore.
Hythe & Dibden: T Richards, T Gates, M Young, J Stovell, W Mckay, D Taylor, T Jones, A Oliver, N Vaughan, B Holbrook, D Jones.
Fourth placed Langley Manor go to Trojans, Portsmouth & Southsea entertain Basingstoke & North Hants II, while Purbrook play Tichborne Park in a crucial relegation showdown at The Heath.
