SPARSHOLT OLD BOYS RETURN TO LOCKS LANE

Sparsholt CC are delighted to announce the return of two old boys for the 2016 season starting in May. Jeremy Frith a key player in the successful Sparsholt side of the late 90's and early 2000's moved to Guernsey in 2001 as firstly as a coach and then on to be Performance Director for the Guernsey Sports Commission. Known as Guernsey's very own Mr Cricket, ‘Frithy’ is a level 4 elite coach and brings a vast amount of experience back to Sparsholt. 

38 year old Frith states "I'm really excited about coming back to Sparsholt, catching up with some old friends and enjoying my cricket again at the club I grew up at. It's a special place for me. I am looking forward to being around the younger players as well as some of the old heads and helping in any way that I can. It'll be great to be back in and around the SPL, it's a great league and being away from it for a period of time really makes you appreciate what a fantastic experience playing league cricket in Hampshire is."

Sparsholt captain Andy Worth Is looking to improve and develop the younger emerging players within the club not just technically but also with match awareness and approach. He states "Jeremy returning to the club is a massive boost for us this season not just with his strength of batting and left arm spin , but also with his approach and knowledge of the game. With a number of experienced players joining I'm looking to provide a great balance of opportunity for emerging players like Tom Foster, Mike Haworth, Nick Doubell and Nayan Phagami with the experience of Richard Kenway, Jeremy Frith and Dave Gough (who had just broken into the first team when Frith last played) amongst others".

Also returning to ‘the Trees’ for the 2016 season is another ‘old boy’ Kiwi all rounder Kyle Ruffell, who will be the club’s overseas player for the second successive season. Ruffell played a key part in the successful fight to avoid relegation in 2015, and his 499 runs and 27 wickets went a long way to keeping Sparsholt in Division 2 of the Southern Premier League. Skipper Worth said ‘Kyle has been opening the bowling back in Auckland, New Zealand for his club, Grafton United, so I am expecting another big season from him, he should be ready for his second season in English cricket, and will be more familiar with the slower pitches over here. Ruffell became the latest entry on the club’s bowling honours board with his best figures of 5 for 51 against Langley Manor in 2015. His best with the bat was in the final match at Fawley where he was 78 not out when rain intervened and ended the game early. Ruffell said ‘ I was hoping for an entry on the batting honours board too (a score of 100 or more is required) but it was not to be. It would be great to put that to rights this season, although I am just delighted to be invited back by Sparsholt’ 

Latest from Nepal, where Sparsholt seam bowler Jon Vokes, and Sydenhams Kelly Douglas have gone to join the All Hands Volunteer group helping after the 2015 earthquake (featured in the Observer two weeks ago). Vokes reports ‘we arrived safely after a long and interesting journey and have been helping clearing rubble and laying the footings and first course for some replacement buildings. Unfortunately we have been struck by the dreaded ‘Delhi belly’ in the last couple of days, so have had to take things easy. We hope to be at full fitness again next week’. 

Pictures are of Jeremy Frith, Sparsholt all rounder who returns from Guensey, and New Zealander Kyle Ruffell, returning for his second season with Sparsholt.