Thumbs up this time - James Hayward in elegant form against Basingstoke [Roy Honeybone]
Table topping South Wilts could be without influential all-rounder James Hayward for the remainder of the season.
Hayward broke a bone at the base of his right thumb and also damaged ligaments taking a catch to dismiss Tim Taylor in last week’s comfortable 70-run win over Bashley (Rydal).
“I didn’t catch the ball cleanly and directly it struck me on the bone joint I knew something was wrong,” he explained.
“I was in a lot of pain and once it began to throb I suspected there was a break and the X-ray confirmed it.
“I’ve got to keep a cast over my right thumb and wrist for the next five weeks, so that’s me sidelined until mid-August at least.
“It’s a nuisance in more ways than one as I can’t drive a car, so will have to work from home and watch the cricket from the sidelines.
“Watching South Wilts play isn’t something I’ve experienced too much of, but at least I can help from the boundary line by talking to the batsmen and ensuring they remain focussed.
“There are seven matches still to play and we’re in a great position, so it’s essential we keep our eye on the ball and don’t slip up.”
Although he hasn’t score any runs for the past two weeks, Hayward has been in pretty good form this season, scoring over 300 league runs, including an unbeaten 113 at St Cross Symondians and a recent 84 against Basingstoke & North Hants.
Hayward’s injury means that South Wilts will be without three front-line batsmen for tomorrow’s visit to Havant, in the penultimate round of all-day Time pennant matches.
Jack Mynott and Will Wade are also absent as South Wilts defend an overall eight-point lead at the top of the Premier Division.
“We’re also five points up on St Cross Symondians in the Time pennant log with two to play, so it’s important we do well at Havant,” Hayward continued.
Hayward and Mynott are two of South Wilts’ spin bowling options, so skipper James Hibberd has drafted in Rob Franklin to operate alongside Joe Weld, who bowls with a flat round-arm action.
Joe Cranch is pencilled in to bolster the South Wilts top order, while Steve Warner returns to a four-pronged seam attack.
Defending champions Havant are experiencing an indifferent season and lie fifth in the log, all but mathematically out of the reckoning for a third successive title.
Skipper Chris Stone and Chris Morgan miss the game, so either in-form Stuart Ransley or Andy Gorvin will wear the captain’s armband.
Havant were knocked out of the ECB Royal London Cup by Clevedon last weekend, only Ransley (76) making his mark as Havant were bowled out for 135 and beaten by seven wickets, Jake Lintott cracking a boundary-strewn 93 not out.
Lintott made a one-off appearance for Hampshire in last season’s T20 Blast defeat by Somerset at the Ageas Bowl.
South Wilts: Hibberd, Morton, Cowley, Draper, Cranch, Godsal, Weld, Franklin, Evans, Murray, Warner.
Hayward broke a bone at the base of his right thumb and also damaged ligaments taking a catch to dismiss Tim Taylor in last week’s comfortable 70-run win over Bashley (Rydal).
“I didn’t catch the ball cleanly and directly it struck me on the bone joint I knew something was wrong,” he explained.
“I was in a lot of pain and once it began to throb I suspected there was a break and the X-ray confirmed it.
“I’ve got to keep a cast over my right thumb and wrist for the next five weeks, so that’s me sidelined until mid-August at least.
“It’s a nuisance in more ways than one as I can’t drive a car, so will have to work from home and watch the cricket from the sidelines.
“Watching South Wilts play isn’t something I’ve experienced too much of, but at least I can help from the boundary line by talking to the batsmen and ensuring they remain focussed.
“There are seven matches still to play and we’re in a great position, so it’s essential we keep our eye on the ball and don’t slip up.”
Although he hasn’t score any runs for the past two weeks, Hayward has been in pretty good form this season, scoring over 300 league runs, including an unbeaten 113 at St Cross Symondians and a recent 84 against Basingstoke & North Hants.
Hayward’s injury means that South Wilts will be without three front-line batsmen for tomorrow’s visit to Havant, in the penultimate round of all-day Time pennant matches.
Jack Mynott and Will Wade are also absent as South Wilts defend an overall eight-point lead at the top of the Premier Division.
“We’re also five points up on St Cross Symondians in the Time pennant log with two to play, so it’s important we do well at Havant,” Hayward continued.
Hayward and Mynott are two of South Wilts’ spin bowling options, so skipper James Hibberd has drafted in Rob Franklin to operate alongside Joe Weld, who bowls with a flat round-arm action.
Joe Cranch is pencilled in to bolster the South Wilts top order, while Steve Warner returns to a four-pronged seam attack.
Defending champions Havant are experiencing an indifferent season and lie fifth in the log, all but mathematically out of the reckoning for a third successive title.
Skipper Chris Stone and Chris Morgan miss the game, so either in-form Stuart Ransley or Andy Gorvin will wear the captain’s armband.
Havant were knocked out of the ECB Royal London Cup by Clevedon last weekend, only Ransley (76) making his mark as Havant were bowled out for 135 and beaten by seven wickets, Jake Lintott cracking a boundary-strewn 93 not out.
Lintott made a one-off appearance for Hampshire in last season’s T20 Blast defeat by Somerset at the Ageas Bowl.
South Wilts: Hibberd, Morton, Cowley, Draper, Cranch, Godsal, Weld, Franklin, Evans, Murray, Warner.
