Havant new skipper Chris Stone in full flow [Roy Honeybone]
Chris Stone will be at the helm as Havant, champions for the two seasons, begin their quest for a hat-trick of ECB Southern Premier Division titles defence against a drastically reshaped Lymington, who include five Isle of Wight based players in their line-up.
Stone put his hand up immediately to take over from Ben Walker when the now seriously injured (ruptured Achilles) all-rounder joined Totton & Eling.
Eight regulars from last season’s championship side remain – London-based Rob Gibson has joined Richmond – but neither Chris Morgan nor left-arm spinner Steve Matthews (injured shoulder) are listed play against the New Forest visitors.
Skipper Simon Beetham, lead wicket-taker Matt Metcalfe and opener Ben Rogers are key absentees, while Hampshire’s Calvin Dickinson (Oxford), Ed Ellis (St Cross Symondians) and Richard Locke (Burridge) have all left.
So, it’s Isle of Wight cricketers to the rescue, with Ryde’s breezy opener Josh Proctor likely to open with Dom Hand and play alongside Ventnor-raised teenage trio Ben Atrill, Dan Cox and seamer George Willis.
Havant: Stone, Gorvin, Hopson, Ransley, Gadd, Hindley, Bulled, Prentice, Burns, Jerry, Ord.
Lymington: Scott, Hand, Cox, Grady, Attrill, Woodward, Calcott, Proctor, Willis, C Moors, Layman.
Stone put his hand up immediately to take over from Ben Walker when the now seriously injured (ruptured Achilles) all-rounder joined Totton & Eling.
Eight regulars from last season’s championship side remain – London-based Rob Gibson has joined Richmond – but neither Chris Morgan nor left-arm spinner Steve Matthews (injured shoulder) are listed play against the New Forest visitors.
Skipper Simon Beetham, lead wicket-taker Matt Metcalfe and opener Ben Rogers are key absentees, while Hampshire’s Calvin Dickinson (Oxford), Ed Ellis (St Cross Symondians) and Richard Locke (Burridge) have all left.
So, it’s Isle of Wight cricketers to the rescue, with Ryde’s breezy opener Josh Proctor likely to open with Dom Hand and play alongside Ventnor-raised teenage trio Ben Atrill, Dan Cox and seamer George Willis.
Havant: Stone, Gorvin, Hopson, Ransley, Gadd, Hindley, Bulled, Prentice, Burns, Jerry, Ord.
Lymington: Scott, Hand, Cox, Grady, Attrill, Woodward, Calcott, Proctor, Willis, C Moors, Layman.
