St Cross Symondians’ frustrating wait for New Zealander Michael Pollard, pictured, to arrive and bolster their fragile ECB Southern Electric Premier Division batting is over.
The 25-year old Wellington top order batsman missed the first two matches of the season, but will make his debut at Havant.
“Things were a little slow on the visa front, but I’m here now and raring to go,” said Pollard, who met his new St Cross team-mates for the first time last night.
His belated arrival can’t come quick enough for St Cross, who have been bowled out for 136 (Lymington) and 140 (Ventnor) in losing their first two matches.
Pollard was man-of-the-match for Wellington in this winter’s New Zealand twenty20 final victory over Auckland and scored 151 for the Board President’s XI against Pakistan in a pre-ICC World Cup match.
Overall, Pollard – who spent the 2011 season playing Essex Premier League cricket for Brentwood – felt he could have done better in New Zealand this past season.
“It was a season full of potential, but I didn’t do as well as I have could have done and that was frustrating,” he added.
“My aim here is to score plenty of runs and help St Cross climb the table.”
Pete Hopson has shrugged off St Cross’ winless start to the new season as Havant go searching for a third straight win.
The player-coach saw at first hand that teams which are not expected to challenge for the title can cause some major problems as Havant just about got over the line to beat Burridge.
St Cross have had a winless start but Hopson insists the team will not be taking anything for granted.
Hopson said: ‘Last weekend gave us a glimpse of what can happen this season if we take any game lightly.
‘It was a close game against Burridge and all of these teams have good players.
‘The other sides are improving all the time and if we had taken it lightly, I think we would have lost.
‘St Cross have not had a good start and might be lacking in a bit of bowling.
‘But the moment we take a game lightly, we will get punished.’
The 25-year old Wellington top order batsman missed the first two matches of the season, but will make his debut at Havant.
“Things were a little slow on the visa front, but I’m here now and raring to go,” said Pollard, who met his new St Cross team-mates for the first time last night.
His belated arrival can’t come quick enough for St Cross, who have been bowled out for 136 (Lymington) and 140 (Ventnor) in losing their first two matches.
Pollard was man-of-the-match for Wellington in this winter’s New Zealand twenty20 final victory over Auckland and scored 151 for the Board President’s XI against Pakistan in a pre-ICC World Cup match.
Overall, Pollard – who spent the 2011 season playing Essex Premier League cricket for Brentwood – felt he could have done better in New Zealand this past season.
“It was a season full of potential, but I didn’t do as well as I have could have done and that was frustrating,” he added.
“My aim here is to score plenty of runs and help St Cross climb the table.”
Pete Hopson has shrugged off St Cross’ winless start to the new season as Havant go searching for a third straight win.
The player-coach saw at first hand that teams which are not expected to challenge for the title can cause some major problems as Havant just about got over the line to beat Burridge.
St Cross have had a winless start but Hopson insists the team will not be taking anything for granted.
Hopson said: ‘Last weekend gave us a glimpse of what can happen this season if we take any game lightly.
‘It was a close game against Burridge and all of these teams have good players.
‘The other sides are improving all the time and if we had taken it lightly, I think we would have lost.
‘St Cross have not had a good start and might be lacking in a bit of bowling.
‘But the moment we take a game lightly, we will get punished.’
