Stumps up and ready for action

Cricket campaign gets under way with changes all around

THE league cricket season gets into full swing on Saturday with all of the local competitions in fulls swing for the first time this season.
There are changes at most clubs with Craig Williams now installed as Falkland captain as they return to the Morrant Thames Valley League to travel to newly promoted Cookham Dean in Division One.
Former skipper Bruce Martin remains in the ranks, which also have ex-Hampshire all-rounder Hamza Riazuddin.
Thatcham have been relegated to Division Three B, where they will join Newbury and Falkland’s second XI.
With Duncan Johnson leading the side, Thatcham will be without last week’s century-maker Josh Winfield, who is serving the third game in a four-match ban imposed at the end of last season following an altercation with a rival player.
Jack Young, Chris Wright, Peter Spriggs, Andy Harland, Chris Rochfort and Matthew Denness also miss out as Thatcham start their campaign with a trip to Cove II.
Newbury have a new captain in bowler Kevin Mills, although predecessor Charlie Anstey remains a key player.
They are also on the road to Finchampstead III.
Hungerford have new overseas player Hugo Nel in their isde for their Hampshire League Division Two home game with Petersfield.
Other local Saturday league fixtures: Ashford Hill v Old Alresford - AWE Tadley II v Fair Oak IV - Bradfield v Welford Park - East Woodhay II v Hook & N Basics IV - Falkland II v Aldershot - Great Bedwyn II v Devizes II - Mortimer West End v Crowthorne & Crown Wood - Newbury II v Finchampstead IV - Newbury III v Cove V - Overton v East Woodhay - Purley II v Falkland III - Ramsdell v Donnington - Sulhamstead v Sandhurst - Thatcham II v Cookham Dean II - Theale & Tilehurst v Eversley II - Thatcham III v Cove III - Theale & Tilehurst III v Eversley IV - Welford Park II v Sulhamstead III.