SKIPPER Ed Foreman feels it’s time Chudleigh made some progress up the A Division table instead of standing still.
Foreman led Chudleigh to promotion in 2015 and kept them in the A Division last summer. When they went up in 2014, they only lasted a season.
It was touch and go at times last season with survival going down to the last game of the season. Chudleigh due to play drop rivals Barton who were below them, but as the game was rained off Barton went down.
Said Foreman: “This season is all about senior players standing up and being counted.
“We aren't an inexperienced side anymore and our big players need to show that.
“I will be looking for Will and Matt Heather, Rob Clarke and Dan Britcliffe to have a big seasons.”
Chudleigh have recruited South African Grant Stone as their overseas player for 2017.
Stone, from the Eastern Cape, is a product of the Grey High School cricket production line who has played County Districts cricket and his university first team.
He bats high and bowls slow left-arm orthodox and, according to Foreman, ‘ has looked good in the nets so far’.
Mark Russell has joined us Stokenteignhead in search of a higher standard of cricket.
“He is a valuable addition to our squad and a top replacement for the bowlers we have lost but improves the batting and fielding sides of our game as well,” said Foreman, who has seen Hugh Stronge leave for new-ball duties at Kenn and Matt Ball move to Plymstock.
The only weakness Foreman can see is behind the stumps.
“Mark Solway is still with us but his availability might be limited,” said Foreman.
“With Mike Trout retiring and Dan Coles leaving, our second team keeping options are limited.
“Young Adam Sercombe will take the gloves but also has expressed his desire to develop his bowling. Foreman or 2nd XI skipper Andy Robinson would be keen to hear from any keepers looking for a club.
Chudleigh’s seasons starts at home to Lewdown.
LEWDOWN, fifth last season, have signed young South African Dinecho Visser as their overseas player for this season’s A Division campaign.
Visser, who will be 19 in June, comes from the Western Cape and plays for Heidelberg in the Gauteng League.
He bats in the top half of the order and bowls off-spin. Harry Geering, who has stepped into the new role of club captain at Lewdown, said Visser has impeccable references from last summer’s big-scoring South African Johannes Wessels.
Another useful signing is Gareth James, who is head of cricket at nearby Kelly College, where Lewdown duo Leon Horn and Adam Creasy are students.
Batsman James has played List A cricket for Essex, First Class cricket for Cambridge UCCE and Tamil Union in Sri Lanka and has Minor Counties appearances for Suffolk. His CV also includes a handful of games for Alphington, where brother Paul is a former captain.
Also committed to Lewdown this summer are Richard Goldby-West and Pat Hobbs, who have switched from Yelverton.
Dan Moore and George Smith - Plymouth university first teamers – have signed too.
Lewdown have had up and down experience in the A Division over the past couple of years, ranging from promotion near misses just only just staying up.
Club captain Harry Geering feels the 2017 group of players is well prepared for the challenges ahead.
“The squad has more depth this year than we have previously had,” said Geering.
“A Division cricket, as we know, is extremely competitive and being a village club we have to work extra hard.”
