West Sussex Invitation Cricket League 2012 preview

THE new West Sussex Invitation Cricket League season gets under way on Saturday (April 28) when our local sides aim for success or just consolidation in their respective divisions.

Wisborough Green won the title last year but have now moved up into the Sussex League, so East Preston, who finished runners-up last season, will be hoping to go one better this year.

Here are the hopes and aims of our local sides in the top two divisions.

DIVISION 1

Broadwater

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Captain: Graham Waller – aims for the season: “There’s no real expectations for us, if we stay up then it will be a good achievement.

“It will be up to the older guys in the squad to come through and keep the club afloat.

“It’s nice to play Division 1 cricket and we are just aiming to enjoy it. The likes of Jamie Witten, who’s an all-rounder, is one for the future. There are also a few 15 and 16-year-olds in the 2nd XI, who we could maybe throw into the side, but we just want them to enjoy the season.”

Players in: None. Players out: None.

Clymping

Captain: Chris Green – aims: “We’ll be pushing towards the top end of the division to achieve promotion.

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“It’s too early to say whether we can achieve this, but we hope to maintain our position from last season. But this all depends on the availability of players.”

Players in: None. Players out: Chris Hanks.

East Preston

Captain: Richard Laker – aims: “We are very much looking forward to the season after finishing second place last year. Missing out on promotion is a big motivation for the team to improve this year.

“I am an optimist and I fully expect us to be challenging for top spot come the end of August.

“We welcome back Sean Rebbetts and have one or two players who will be more available this year due to changes in working commitments.

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“So, all in all, we have an improved squad who can, hopefully, improve on last year and push for promotion to the Sussex League divisions for 2013.”

Players in: Sean Rebbetts. Players out: None.

Portslade

Captain: Paul Glover – aims: “We want to get promoted and become a Sussex League side, and I’ve come back to push the side on, so it’s definitely a case of moving onwards and upwards.

“We’ve brought in Sam Delaney, who was playing cricket in Victoria, Australia, for Sommerville and is a top-order batsman and medium-pace bowler.

“We’re also building for the future after developing our youth teams from under-10 to under-16 level, so those players who are aspiring to play in the Sussex League won’t have to leave the club.”

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Players in: Cameron Doyle, Harry Dorgan, Jamie Howick. Players out: None.

Overseas player: Sam Delaney.

Southwick

Captain: Russell Martin – aims: “Realistically, we’ll be looking to consolidate our position in the division. We’ve had some good results against the top teams, but struggled with the lower sides in the tables. It is important that we hold our own against the sides around us.”

Players in: Chris Summers, Sam Dabin. Players out: Dan Feniuk, Nick Taylor, Tim Shutt.

Overseas player: Phil Hicks.

DIVISION 2

Worthing Chippingdale

Captain: Pete Mansell – aims: “The main aim is to, hopefully, stay in Division 2, with the intention to blood more younger players into the first 11.

“We want to stabilise the side.”

Players in: None. Players out: None.

Storrington

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Captain: Rob Norris – aims: “Having just been promoted, we’re realistic about what is possible. We last played at this level two years ago when we were relegated quite spectacularly, with just one win all season. But I’m optimisitc we can avoid the same fate of two years ago.”

Players in: James Peake. Players out: None.