YOUNGSTER Michael Porter assumed the Bashley (Rydal) captaincy and immediately targeted the scalp of ECB Southern Electric Premier League leaders South Wilts.
The 20-year-old batsman, pictured, is due to hold the skipper role at BCG for the next five weekends as Simon Watkins has temporarily stepped aside due to work commitments, writes Ned Payne of the Bournemouth Echo.
Porter, who fulfilled 12th-man duties for England in a Test match against India last summer, already has an impressive captaincy history having led Hampshire under-17s to the ECB County Championship final and also skippered Hampshire Academy.
And the Southampton Solent University student insists he is unfazed by the prospect of captaining those older than him in tomorrow's crucial Premier Division clash at Bemerton(11.30am).
Porter said: "I enjoy captaincy and I've always done it in youth cricket. This will be the first time that I've captained guys that are a lot older than me but I feel an established part of the Bashley team now.
"It's a great set of lads so it's not something I'm worried about because I know they will all get behind me.
"There are people in the team that have played a lot more cricket than me but that can only be a positive. I respect them and they respect me.
"Whatever happens, I will always have the likes of former captain Richard Morris there and his brother James is coming back in a couple of weeks, so I have experienced blokes around me and if I need a little bit of help and guidance, I know they will be more than willing to help."
Third-placed Bashley will take on a South Wilts side that have won six games out of six in the Premier Division but Porter is keen to raise eyebrows and bring the table-toppers' flying run to an end.
He added: "There is no reason why we should go into any game thinking that we can't win and I will say to the players that we want to keep our winning habit going.
"South Wilts are a good side but I want to show a lot of people, and ourselves, that they are beatable. I want to prove a lot of people wrong and it would be brilliant to send a message out to the league.
"There is no reason why we can't be at the top of the table and there's plenty of cricket to be played yet. If we can win at Bemerton then I think a few teams might raise their eyebrows and think that we are up for it.
"It's a good time for us to play South Wilts after three league wins in a row, so it should be a good game."
Bashley face a South Wilts currently brushing aside all comers in their quest for a unique fourth straight title.
Western Australia left-arm paceman Ryan Duffield took 9-65 against Sarisbury Athletic last week and is anxious to keep his name in the media spotlight and attract potential English counties.
South Wilts wait on Hampshire’s Sean Terry before finalising their line-up.
Terry suffered a bruised thumb after being hit while steering Hampshire to victory over Sussex with his unbeaten 62 at Hove this week. If Terry doesn’t play, 16-year old William Wade will keep his place after making a fifty on first team debut at Sarisbury.
South Wilts: Morton, Abel, Riddle, Terry, Hayward, Cranch, Hibberd, Duffield, Franklin, Foley, Warner.
Bashley (Rydal): Webb, Baker, Porter, R Morris, Jacques, Ridley, Andrews, Thomson, Digby, Lilley, Nash.
The 20-year-old batsman, pictured, is due to hold the skipper role at BCG for the next five weekends as Simon Watkins has temporarily stepped aside due to work commitments, writes Ned Payne of the Bournemouth Echo.
Porter, who fulfilled 12th-man duties for England in a Test match against India last summer, already has an impressive captaincy history having led Hampshire under-17s to the ECB County Championship final and also skippered Hampshire Academy.
And the Southampton Solent University student insists he is unfazed by the prospect of captaining those older than him in tomorrow's crucial Premier Division clash at Bemerton(11.30am).
Porter said: "I enjoy captaincy and I've always done it in youth cricket. This will be the first time that I've captained guys that are a lot older than me but I feel an established part of the Bashley team now.
"It's a great set of lads so it's not something I'm worried about because I know they will all get behind me.
"There are people in the team that have played a lot more cricket than me but that can only be a positive. I respect them and they respect me.
"Whatever happens, I will always have the likes of former captain Richard Morris there and his brother James is coming back in a couple of weeks, so I have experienced blokes around me and if I need a little bit of help and guidance, I know they will be more than willing to help."
Third-placed Bashley will take on a South Wilts side that have won six games out of six in the Premier Division but Porter is keen to raise eyebrows and bring the table-toppers' flying run to an end.
He added: "There is no reason why we should go into any game thinking that we can't win and I will say to the players that we want to keep our winning habit going.
"South Wilts are a good side but I want to show a lot of people, and ourselves, that they are beatable. I want to prove a lot of people wrong and it would be brilliant to send a message out to the league.
"There is no reason why we can't be at the top of the table and there's plenty of cricket to be played yet. If we can win at Bemerton then I think a few teams might raise their eyebrows and think that we are up for it.
"It's a good time for us to play South Wilts after three league wins in a row, so it should be a good game."
Bashley face a South Wilts currently brushing aside all comers in their quest for a unique fourth straight title.
Western Australia left-arm paceman Ryan Duffield took 9-65 against Sarisbury Athletic last week and is anxious to keep his name in the media spotlight and attract potential English counties.
South Wilts wait on Hampshire’s Sean Terry before finalising their line-up.
Terry suffered a bruised thumb after being hit while steering Hampshire to victory over Sussex with his unbeaten 62 at Hove this week. If Terry doesn’t play, 16-year old William Wade will keep his place after making a fifty on first team debut at Sarisbury.
South Wilts: Morton, Abel, Riddle, Terry, Hayward, Cranch, Hibberd, Duffield, Franklin, Foley, Warner.
Bashley (Rydal): Webb, Baker, Porter, R Morris, Jacques, Ridley, Andrews, Thomson, Digby, Lilley, Nash.