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SPCL players aplenty as Hampshire CB meet Wiltshire
Mike Vimpany - 25 August 2002
Kevin Nash and Luke Ronchi share the same Bashley-Rydal dressing room every Saturday - but next Thursday they'll be the deadliest of rivals in a key Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy 2003 first round tie at Hursley Park.
Pace bowler Nash and his Australian team-mate will be on opposite sides when Wiltshire play the Hampshire Cricket Board in what amounts to the first of two qualifying matches for next season's C & G Trophy.
Nash will be taking the new ball for the Moonrakers, with Ronchi, signed up as the HCB's overseas player, batting at four for the Hampshire team.
"I've never bowled to Luke in a match situation; only in the nets," Nash said.
"He's obviously the Hampshire danger man - and potential match-winner - as he plays his shots and scores so quickly.
"If the ball's there to hit, he will - and very hard."
But Nash knows his Perth buddy is not infallible. "Luke is always likely to give a chance, as he tends to be a bit loose and hit the ball in the air every now and then....," he added.
The Hampshire Cricket Board have a double incentive to beat their Wiltshire neighbours in the qualifier at Hursley Park, which starts at 11 o'clock and admission for which is free.
For starters, there's the incentive of a home tie against Staffordshire in the second round but, more significantly, the knowledge that, should they lose, the bulk of the Board team will never play representative cricket again.
Among radical changes announced by the ECB, Board teams will not be allowed to participate in the C & G Trophy after the 2003 season.
And, in addition, the 38 County (Board) Championship, under its present guise, is to be scrapped, leaving top recreational cricketers in First Class counties without any representative cricket at all.
Frank Kemp, the ECB's Cricket Operations Manager (Recreational) confirmed that "from the 2004 season, entry to the C & G Trophy will be restricted to one team from the 18 First Class counties, in addition to the 20 Minor Counties, plus Denmark, Holland, Ireland and Scotland."
No entry for Board teams like Hampshire into the country's top 50-over competition means that, theoretically, top club cricketers like Dan Goldstraw, Paul Gover and the like will no longer have the opportunity to pit their skills against the top pros, unless the transfer their allegience to neighbouring Minor Counties.
The ECB is also to scrap the existing two-day Under-19 County Championship - which Hampshire won several seasons ago and are semi-finalists again this term - and to introduce an age limitation into a new-look one-day 38 County Championship.
"The age limitation will be Under 21, with up to two 'over-age' players allowed to play in each team," Kemp clarified.
Next season's reshaped 38 County Board Championship will continue on a geographic eight-group basis leading to quarter, semi- and final matches.
"This change reflects the 'developmental' aspects of much County Board cricket and the fact that Under 19 cricket does not consistently involve the best players of this age, who are often playing County 2nd XI cricket," Kemp explained.
It is anticipated that the majority of matches will be played when school and university players are available, ie from June onwards.
The ECB's plans met with considerable opposition - none more so than from Hampshire themselves - but appear to have fallen on deaf ears.
"These changes are seen as a big disappointment to the best Hampshire club cricketers who aspire to represent their home county, both in the 38-county competition and in the C & G Trophy," said HCB Administrator Colin Savage.
"At a time when the ECB is aiming to support and encourage cricket clubs - an important part of its National Strategy - this can only be seen as a big backward step.
"It also removes the opportunity for the County Board to achieve a home tie in the third round and raise extra revenue for its crucial role in cricket development."
Wiltshire have named five Southern Electric Premier League players in their side.
South Wilts opener Russell Rowe and Winchester's Jimmy Taylor will be in the top order batting positions, with Bashley-Rydal's Kevin Nash spearheading the Moonraker's attack.
Paul Draper (South Wilts) and Calmore's James Hibberd are named as the two all-rounders in the Wiltshire side.
Hampshire are weakened by the absence of top BAT wicket-taker Dan Goldstraw and Havant opener Andy Perry.
Hampshire CB: Paul Gover (capt), Mackie Hobson, Richard Hindley (Havant), Roger Miller (Andover), Damian Shirazi, Dave Banks, Richard Dibden (BAT Sports), Lee Savident (Portsmouth), Dave Greetham (Normandy), Luke Ronchi (Bashley), Danny Peacock (Lymington).
© SPCL
| Players/Umpires | Kevin Nash, Luke Ronchi, Daniel Goldstraw, Paul Gover, Andrew Perry, Russell Rowe, James Taylor, Paul Draper, James Hibberd, Mackie Hobson, Richard Hindley, Roger Miller, Damian Shirazi, David Banks, Richard Dibden, Lee Savident, David Greetham, Daniel Peacock. |
| Tournaments | Southern Electric Premier League |
| Season | English Domestic Season |
| Grounds | The Quarters, Hursley Park, Winchester |