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Eight games off in opening weekend of Southern Electric Premier League
Mike Vimpany - 5 May 2001
BAT Sports and Bashley (Rydal) get the newly-sponsored Southern Electric Premier League under way at Southern Gardens on May 5 - despite the wettest winter on record, which led to the postponement of eight scheduled opening day fixtures in the three divisions.
The only ECB Premier 1 fixture cancelled was Calmore's home match against South Wilts, which was called off in midweek due to a saturated Loperwood Park outfield. The Division 2 games at Cove and United Services were called off, along with the Premier Division 3 games at Hook & Newnham Basics, Leckford, Lymington, Paultons and Winchester KS.
BAT had the Indian Sign over their New Forest opponents last season, beating Bashley in both the 50-over and all-day `time' format games.
Both clubs introduce new players, with BAT calling up Hambledon regular Australian import Dave Carson and Bashley giving Adelaide-based Andy Loader his first taste of Premier League cricket.
Carson, a prolific run scorer for Hambledon during the past two seasons, enjoyed a successful winter season in New South Wales, notching 569 runs and snapping up 23 wickets in the Sydney A-Grade competition.
Former Romsey pair Andy Hayes and Richard Taylor also make their BAT debuts. Bashley, hit by the absence of Luke Ronchi, who has won a place at Australia's prestigious Commonwealth Bank Academy, include former Wimborne skipper Richard Knowles in their line-up.
Defending champions Havant are without Andy Perry against seriously weakened Hungerford at Havant Park. Perry fears he could miss the entire season after dislocating his shoulder.
Havant give a debut to Perth-based Shane Gillies, from Paul Terry's Melville club, but Hungerford start the season without several of their previous SL championship-winning side.
Their notable absentee is paceman David Pryke, who has returned to his native South Africa.
Other notable departees are prolific left-hander Jim Ettridge, Stuart Wyatt and Duncan Johnson, last year's captain.
But Wales all-rounder Alex Barr, who spent last year in Australia, is back for Hungerford, who arecaptained by ex-Sussex and Middlesex opener Toby Radford. Hampshire 2nd XI wicketkeeper Iain Brunnschweiler will be handed an important opening role at Andover, who host Burridge at London Road.
Andover finished fourth last season and, wicketkeeper Ian Williams (retired) apart, have retained all of their previous side. Bournemouth's Neil Staddon has the gloves.
Hampshire medium-paceman James Hamblin makes his Burridge debut.
Bournemouth could field the most potent pace attack of the lot, with Devon's Paul Warren partnering Aussie swing merchant Peter Waite, from South Perth. A former Glamorgan player, Warren has already been amongst the wickets for his West Country Minor County this season.
Liphook & Ripsley, visitors to Chapel Gate, have lost their New Zealand import Mayu Pasupati, who grabbed over 50 wickets in last season's successful Premier 2 title drive.
Former Hampshire duo Matthew Keech and Lee Savident would have made their respective debuts for Portsmouth - but for the Burnaby Road surface to be unplayable.
Pipped by Liphook & Ripsley to the title last season, Portsmouth are hot favourites to land the Southern Electric Premier Division 2 crown.
Hampshire coach Jimmy Cook has also sent his 18-year old son Stephen to play under Raj Maru at Southsea this summer. Cook junior, who played several games for Flamingos last summer, was capped by South Africa Under-19s in New Zealand this winter, and made a SuperSport 4-day Series half-century for Gauteng at The Wanderers Test ground in February.
United Services, who merged with PCS Cormorants this winter, have snapped up another young South African, John Geoghegan, who ironically plays in the same King Edward's School team as Stephen Cook.
Trojans face newly promoted Easton & Martyr Worthy at Stoneham Lane, while Sparsholt were set to include former US and Winchester opener Rob Savage, but Cove's pitch was unfit.
Old Tauntonians & Romsey visit Hambledon, with Lymington travelling to Old Basing, last season's Premier 3 champions.
Winchester KS, relegated for failing to comply with the Premier League's strict youth development criteria at the end of last season, are expected to be far too strong for their Premier 3 rivals.
But a waterlogged River Park pitch meant that they had to sit out the scheduled Premier 3 opener against new boys Flamingos at River Park. Off-spinner Oliver Green has joined Calmore Sports, but the return of talented left-hander David James, from Australia, has given the city club an enormous boost.
The postponement of the match at Leckford has given Stuart Charman's back injury time to heal, but left Hampshire left-hander Jimmy Adams kicking his heels for his St Cross Symondians debut.
© SEPL
| Teams | England. |
| Players/Umpires | Luke Ronchi, Andrew Perry, David Pryke, Alexander Barr, Toby Radford, Iain Brunnschweiler, James Hamblin, Paul Warren, Mayu Pasupati, Matthew Keech, Lee Savident, Jimmy Cook, Rajesh Maru, Robert Savage, James Adams. |
| Tournaments | Southern Premier League English Domestic League |
| Season | English Domestic Season |