BASINGSTOKE and North Hants entertain local rivals Hartley Wintney in what is a mouth-watering clash on the opening day of the Southern Electric Premier League Division One campaign.
It is certain to be a battle royale, with both sides hoping to have the early bragging rights over their near neighbours. The Bountymen were in the hunt for promotion for all of last season, but in the end they had to settle for third spot, writes Graham Merry of the Basingstoke Gazette.
They have lost top run scorer Dan Coombs, who is now based in Australia, but this will be compensated for by the return of former skipper and Hampshire player Mitch Stokes. They also have a new signing in mid-order batsman Chris Oliver.
Last season, all-rounder Stokes played his club cricket for Silverdale in the North Staffs and South Cheshire League. He scored 470 runs in 21 matches, also taking 45 wickets with the ball.
The bowling of Stokes will add another weapon for captain Chris Froud, who can also call upon seamers Martyn James, Ryan Connor and Graham Porter, as well as spin twins Matt Thankachan and Dave Pistorius.
Froud is looking forward to the new campaign and said: “Swapping Dan Coombs for Mitch Stokes is a like for like change in the batting line-up, but Mitch will give us a little bit more in the bowling department.
“Mitch has played in cup and friendly games for us over the last few years, so it should be easy for him to slot straight into the team. The mood in the camp is good as we start the season. We want to make sure we are challenging for promotion again this summer, but we know that Hartley will be tough opponents in the opening game.”
Newly-promoted Hartley have had a busy winter on the recruitment front. They have a new overseas player in batting all-rounder Australian Aaron Wivell, who replaces South African Ari Karvelas.
Former captain Scott Baldwin is also back after a season out and the New Zealander is no longer classed as an overseas player, which is a great boost for the village side.
Hartley have also added two more all-rounders in Chris Saville and Dan Wrenn. With all of last year’s squad returning as well, they have a strong group of players to pick from.
For second year running Jamie Teale will be in charge as captain and he said: “We are really looking forward to the new season and our first aim is to consolidate our position in division one.
“We have strengthened our side and we now have nine all-rounders. I have a batting line-up in my mind, but I think that may change as the season goes on.”
For the opening game of the season, Hartley will be without opening batsman Jack Hersh, so Matt Kerr comes into the team.
Looking ahead to his side’s trip to May’s Bounty, Teale said: “It is a really good taster to what we should expect from the season and we know the ground, having played there in the Guy Jewell Cup.”
Hook and Newnham Basics captain Matt Love is confident that his side can put the disappointment of finishing seventh in SPL1 last season behind them and once again challenge for the title.
The reason for his optimism is the fact that the skipper is fully fit, while other top players, including Ben Thane and Willcock brothers Richard and Nick, are all set to play a lot more this year.
Opener Thane was Hook’s top-scorer last season, scoring 420 runs. However, he only played 11 games, so it will be a big bonus for him to be around all season. The only negative is that all-rounder Jordan Hobday, who scored nearly 400 runs last season, is set to miss most of this campaign, after undergoing a knee operation in the winter.
Love said: “We know last season was a not a good year for us. I really should not have played because of a shoulder injury, but I feel fine now and I am looking forward to a much better campaign for myself and the team. We know what this league is all about and want to be back challenging for a top three place. I see no reason why we cannot do this.”
Hook have been given a tough opening game at Bournemouth, who finished fourth last season. When these sides met in Dorset last August, Hook were bowled out for 116 as teenager Robbie Pack took 7-17. He will be in the Bournemouth side this weekend, with Love determined to gain some revenge for the loss.
The Hook captain said: “We don’t know what sort of team we will face this Saturday, as all teams have changes over the winter. We had a bad day at the office when we were last there, so we want to put that right.”
Wicket-keeper Josh Buckingham misses the trip to Bournemouth and will be replaced by his brother Matt.
Ben Allnutt is returning to first team duty and Hook’s top bowlers, Spencer Champ, Shane Brewer, Anik Divecha and Kevin Poulter, are all expected to figure.
It is certain to be a battle royale, with both sides hoping to have the early bragging rights over their near neighbours. The Bountymen were in the hunt for promotion for all of last season, but in the end they had to settle for third spot, writes Graham Merry of the Basingstoke Gazette.
They have lost top run scorer Dan Coombs, who is now based in Australia, but this will be compensated for by the return of former skipper and Hampshire player Mitch Stokes. They also have a new signing in mid-order batsman Chris Oliver.
Last season, all-rounder Stokes played his club cricket for Silverdale in the North Staffs and South Cheshire League. He scored 470 runs in 21 matches, also taking 45 wickets with the ball.
The bowling of Stokes will add another weapon for captain Chris Froud, who can also call upon seamers Martyn James, Ryan Connor and Graham Porter, as well as spin twins Matt Thankachan and Dave Pistorius.
Froud is looking forward to the new campaign and said: “Swapping Dan Coombs for Mitch Stokes is a like for like change in the batting line-up, but Mitch will give us a little bit more in the bowling department.
“Mitch has played in cup and friendly games for us over the last few years, so it should be easy for him to slot straight into the team. The mood in the camp is good as we start the season. We want to make sure we are challenging for promotion again this summer, but we know that Hartley will be tough opponents in the opening game.”
Newly-promoted Hartley have had a busy winter on the recruitment front. They have a new overseas player in batting all-rounder Australian Aaron Wivell, who replaces South African Ari Karvelas.
Former captain Scott Baldwin is also back after a season out and the New Zealander is no longer classed as an overseas player, which is a great boost for the village side.
Hartley have also added two more all-rounders in Chris Saville and Dan Wrenn. With all of last year’s squad returning as well, they have a strong group of players to pick from.
For second year running Jamie Teale will be in charge as captain and he said: “We are really looking forward to the new season and our first aim is to consolidate our position in division one.
“We have strengthened our side and we now have nine all-rounders. I have a batting line-up in my mind, but I think that may change as the season goes on.”
For the opening game of the season, Hartley will be without opening batsman Jack Hersh, so Matt Kerr comes into the team.
Looking ahead to his side’s trip to May’s Bounty, Teale said: “It is a really good taster to what we should expect from the season and we know the ground, having played there in the Guy Jewell Cup.”
Hook and Newnham Basics captain Matt Love is confident that his side can put the disappointment of finishing seventh in SPL1 last season behind them and once again challenge for the title.
The reason for his optimism is the fact that the skipper is fully fit, while other top players, including Ben Thane and Willcock brothers Richard and Nick, are all set to play a lot more this year.
Opener Thane was Hook’s top-scorer last season, scoring 420 runs. However, he only played 11 games, so it will be a big bonus for him to be around all season. The only negative is that all-rounder Jordan Hobday, who scored nearly 400 runs last season, is set to miss most of this campaign, after undergoing a knee operation in the winter.
Love said: “We know last season was a not a good year for us. I really should not have played because of a shoulder injury, but I feel fine now and I am looking forward to a much better campaign for myself and the team. We know what this league is all about and want to be back challenging for a top three place. I see no reason why we cannot do this.”
Hook have been given a tough opening game at Bournemouth, who finished fourth last season. When these sides met in Dorset last August, Hook were bowled out for 116 as teenager Robbie Pack took 7-17. He will be in the Bournemouth side this weekend, with Love determined to gain some revenge for the loss.
The Hook captain said: “We don’t know what sort of team we will face this Saturday, as all teams have changes over the winter. We had a bad day at the office when we were last there, so we want to put that right.”
Wicket-keeper Josh Buckingham misses the trip to Bournemouth and will be replaced by his brother Matt.
Ben Allnutt is returning to first team duty and Hook’s top bowlers, Spencer Champ, Shane Brewer, Anik Divecha and Kevin Poulter, are all expected to figure.