PLYMOUTH skipper Sam Stein is looking for an all-round improvement from his A Division side in the season ahead.
Stein’s crew finished seventh out of ten clubs in last season’s A Division, comfortably clear of the relegation places but never in the running for promotion.
Promotion is not a stated aim, but being among the contenders is.
“A top-four finish has to be our minimum target this season,” said Stein.
Nazim Siddiqui – 500-plus league runs last season – is back for a second stint as Plymouth’s overseas player.
Newly arrived are Sam Burns and Harry Witcher from Yelverton, both county age-group players.
“It will be great to have two young, promising lads who play for Devon on board,” said Stein.
Ioan Phillips, a student in the city who played age-group cricket for Wales, should feature having recovered from a leg injury sustained playing rugby that ruled him out for much of last season.
“Having Ioan back will make a huge difference to our batting,” said Stein.
Back, too, is young all-rounder Teddy Haffenden, who has spent a UK winter honing his game in the tough environment of Australian Grade cricket.
“Ted has come back looking sharp,” said Stein.
Plymouth’s only notable departure during the winter is that of opening bowler Pete Lojszczyk, who has returned to Australia after five years in the UK, during which he initially played for Yelverton.
Lojszczyk took 70 league and cup wickets for Plymouth in three full seasons at Mount Wise. The challenge for Stein is replacing them in the season ahead, which gets under way at home to Thorverton today.
“We are very spinner heavy this season –light on seamers – so there might be a bit of juggling to do,” said Stein.
“Zak Saleem, another student, is a useful spinner, so I am hoping he will help wickets wise.”
BRIDESTOWE enter a new era in their history when they welcome North Devon to Millaton on Saturday.
Nineteen seasons after they joined the Tolchards DCL in 2006, Bridestowe have clambered up the league ladder via four promotions to the A Division. That’s the first time they have played at that level.
Another first is the engagement of an overseas player – Bajan Shaquan Glasgow – something the club has never done before either.
Glasgow’s home club is Isolation Cavaliers, for whom he scored more than 300 runs and took 27 wickets in the season just ended. He previously had a spell in Canada playing for Surrey United in the British Columbia Mainland League.
Tallan Burns is the new Bridestowe captain. He replaces seamer Dan Fogerty, who is currently out in New Zealand working and playing rugby.
“Hopefully Dan will be back for the back end of the season,” said Burns.
Definitely back at Millaton is Kian Burns, the new skipper’s brother, who has migrated back from Penzance. During a nomadic career batter Burns has appeared for Callington, Truro, Penzance, Bradninch, Lewdown and in National Counties cricket for Cornwall.
Ethan Guest, an all-rounder who has won the East Anglian Premier League with Sawston & Babraham CC. has moved to the area and signed-up.
“Ethan bats in the top order and bowls seam with good pace,” said his new captain.
Sam Pengelly, formerly with Callington, is another of the new names on the team list.
“Sam is another all-rounder, who bats in the middle order and bowls left-arm seam,” said Burns.
Gone from last season’s promotion-winning squad is Charlie Neilson, who has returned to former club Hatherleigh.
“Charlie played a big part in our promotion last season so we thank him and wish him the best,” said Burns.
A Division cricket will be a huge test for the Bridestowe squad, most of whom have not appeared at that level before.
If Burns is at all apprehensive about the challenges ahead, he has made a great job of not letting it show.
“We’ve made some really exciting signings, so the squad is in a good place ahead of our first season in the A Division,” said Burns.
“We are still a young team, so the aim is to be as competitive as we can in what looks to be a strong division.”
ABBOTSKERSWELL have pepped-up their bowling attack for this season’s crack at the Tolchards DCL A Division by recruiting the Singh brothers from Clyst St George
Abbots spent much of last season trying to stay out of the bottom two in the A Division – and finished one place clear of the drop spots.
Clyst, newly promoted from the B Division, were not so fortunate as they went down together with Budleigh Salterton.
The Singhs shone in Clyst’s end-of-season bowling statistics – Parminder claimed 30 wickets at less than 19 apiece – five in one match against Abbots – and Inder 18 at around 23 runs each – and have been welcomed with open arms by Abbots’ skipper Nick Watkin.
“I am delighted to get Inder and Parminder on board,” said Watkin.
“They combined for nearly 50 A Division wickets last season in a team that got relegated, which is some achievement.
“I was so impressed with both of them last year when we came up against them and I think they will be a huge asset to us in 2024.
“Our bowling attack looks to have really good variety and I am excited to see our three spinners – the Singhs and Toby Hard operate together.”
Abbots’ overseas input for 2024 is Australian Liam Hurse, a seamer and latter-order batter from Melbourne.
Kilmington, who finished second last season, are the day-one opposition for Abbots at Two Mile Oak, followed by a trip to promotion favourites North Devon.
“It’s a tough start,” said Watkin. “But we will continue to compete against teams with far greater resources than ours and I'm confident we will turn a few teams over.
Although Watkin was rumoured to be standing down as captain at the end of last season, after five years in the post, he has signed-on for another summer.
“I didn't plan on staying on, but club was unable to find an alternative so I agreed to stay on,” said Watkin.
