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SPCL Div 1 - BAT begin title defence at Liphook
Mike Vimpany - 3 May 2002
BAT Sports begin their ECB Southern Electric Premier 1 championship defence with a full-strength line up at Liphook & Ripsley.
New South Wales University left-hander Michael Watson makes his BAT debut, alongside Andover recruit Kirk Stewart.
Even though Luke Ronchi is in their side, Bashley (Rydal) have injury worries on the eve of their visit to Calmore Sports at Loperwood Park.
Last year's leading 35-wicket taker Matt King is ruled out for several weeks with a chest ligament injury, as is Wiltshire's Kevin Nash, who has recurring hamstring problems.
"I've been playing football all winter without a problem, but just as the cricket started, so it flared up again," Nash explained.
To add to skipper Neil Taylor's problems, veteran seamer John Whiting is also suffering from hamstring trouble.
"The worrying aspect is that both Kevin and John still haven't shaken off the injuries that caused them problems last season," moaned Taylor.
Calmore Sports, who have lost key all-rounder Paul Draper to South Wilts, give a debut to promising Free State medium-pace bowler Christoff Bothma, who was in the South African Academy last year.
Last season's leading SPL runscorer Russell Rowe is optimistic that South Wilts can achieve a top threefinish this time.
But the Bemerton side face near rivals Andover minus highly promising left-arm seamer James Tomlinson, who is playing for the British Universities in a three-day game against Sri Lanka at Northampton.
Tomlinson, who bagged a nap-hand of Somerset scalps last month, added to an already impressive early-season wicket haul by dismissing Kumar Sangakkara in the pre-lunch session on Thursday.
Havant, the 2000 league winners, launch their challenge with a full strength side against Raj Maru's newly promoted Portsmouth and Burridge entertain much-changed Bournemouth.
Havant include three debutants - Lord's groundstaff wicketkeeper Steve Snell, Yorkshireman Bevis Moynhan and ex-Hambledon all-rounder Mackey Hobson.
Portsmouth, though, go into action minus departed Lawrie Prittipaul (who hopes to play his recreational cricket for Southsea), Paul Dew and Pete Hayward, who has a major hockey date in Milton Keynes, where he is in National League play-off action with City of Portsmouth.
Burridge parade newcomer Moeen Cheema, from Atlanta Georgia, and left-hander Ben Thane, who spent last season with relegated Old Basing.
New look Bournemouth, captained by Matt Swarbrick, include Dorset teenage seamer James Elliott-Square, left-arm spinner Chris Cole and Somerset new boy Tom Webley.
© Michael Vimpany
| Players/Umpires | Kirk Stewart, Luke Ronchi, Kevin Nash, Neil Taylor, Paul Draper, Russell Rowe, James Tomlinson, Rajesh Maru, Stephen Snell, Lawrence Prittipaul, Matthew Swarbrick, Thomas Webley. |
| Tournaments | Southern Electric Premier League |
| Season | English Domestic Season |