Sparsholt Cricket Club enter the third year of sponsorship with house builder CALA homes in 2016 and as everyone marvels at Ben Stokes’ innings in the second test at Cape Town, and Stuart Broad’s great bowling spell that finished off the South Africans at Johannesburg, local clubs are starting preparations for the new season starting in April. Sparsholt club captain Andy Worth is optimistic about his club’s prospects in the third tier of ECB Southern League cricket ‘We unexpectedly lost several players last year, and did very well to finish in eighth place and avoid relegation – this season we are already boosted by two new signings, and I am hoping to be able to announce one or two more in the near future’

Sixteen year old seam bowler Kieran Whittle has joined from New Milton, and Jamie Skeoch moves down the M3 from Basingstoke. Whittle is a promising county junior, looking to impress at Southern League level, and shows a  brisk turn of pace, described as ‘quite sharp’ by Worth. Skeoch is a middle order bat, and occasional bowler and has played a good standard in the Lancashire leagues, even encountering Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff in his younger days. Following a season at Basingstoke, Worth is again delighted that Skeoch has come to join the ‘trees’. Worth goes on ‘ I am delighted to be in charge of the first team for a third season, and with the expected (hoped for) line up, I will now be looking for a top four finish, and maybe even promotion.

I am looking to replicate our success as regional winners in the Davidstow National Village Cup, and hope we may even go a few rounds further – I don’t think that we are yet ready to reach Lords (where the national final is played in September), but I can see a situation where we might in a few seasons time’. When asked to reveal more about other new players, Worth said ‘This time of year there are always rumours about who might be coming to us, but I am expecting Richard Kenway to join – he has been a solid performer for Burridge for several seasons, and will bolster our batting. I am also hopeful at least two other experienced Southern League players will come, I have been talking to them over the winter and they like the set up at Sparsholt, so fingers crossed’.  Worth is quick to point out that the Sparsholt junior and youth setup continues to produce young players who develop into first team members ‘ in the last couple of seasons we have blooded the likes of Tom Foster, Nick Doubell and Nayam Phagami, and these players will have every chance to establish themselves despite the arrival of the experienced new players, in fact these three, and others like them, should gain increased benefit from playing with the new experienced players’.

It is also hoped that several players who have performed well with local Hampshire League clubs can be tempted by the challenge of Southern league cricket. Unfortunately, Sparsholt may lose the services of two key players – Lewis Dunford, prolific runscorer at number three for several seasons, has moved out of the Winchester area due to his work commitments, and quick bowler Alex Dilley (son of former England paceman Graham) has finished studying at Winchester University, so may also move out of the area. As well as three Saturday, one Sunday and one midweek league senior teams, Sparsholt also runs a thriving junior set up offering cricket to boys and girls from 7 years upwards. Indoor training for juniors has already started, but anyone wishing to join can find contact details on the Sparsholt website. Indoor nets for seniors begin on Friday 29th January at Winchester College, and will include some coaching sessions from Paul Gover, one of the county’s senior coaches, anyone wanting to consider joining Sparsholt is welcome, again further details on the website, or from Norman Gough (07447 338341).