ABBOTSKERSWELL will have a new captain and a new overseas player for the season ahead in the A Division.

Nick Watkin, who joined the club from Torquay last season as player-coach has assumed the captaincy from Charlie Hill.

Hill can look back on a job well done having steered Abbots to two successive promotions and secured a credible fourth-place finish in the A Division last season.

Abbots’ overseas player in 2019 will be young Australian James Williams, the latest in a succession of players to come over from the Hallora club in Victoria to play at Two Mile Oak.

If the name is familiar that is not a surprise as off-spinner James is the younger brother of Ryan (2013) and Brett Williams (2016), both of whom have assisted Abbots in the past.

An interesting recruit is Devon-born Charlie Dowling, who has been grabbing headlines playing for Randburg in South Africa.

Dowling, who has been living in Johannesburg with his mother, is spending the season with his Torquay-domiciled dad.

His stats for Dunkinfield in the Greater Manchester League last season were an impressive 450 runs and 40 wickets.

The 19-year-old UK passport holder has been knocking over batsmen all season in the Gauteng Premier B League, taking 33 wickets in 45 games.

“Luckily for us, Charlie’s dad lives in Babbacombe and he approached us,” said Abbotskerswell chairman Paul Mitchell.

“I had a chat with my opposite number at Dunkinfield, who rated him very highly as a player.

“Looking on-line at Charlie’s stats this season for Randberg, he started off with a seven-wicket haul and has had a six and five as well.”