Cricket season preview - Crowhurst Park

The Telham club is certainly hoping to improve on its eighth place finish during its debut Sussex Cricket League Division Three (East) season last summer.

New captain Paul Lindfield said: “We’re hoping to finish much higher (than in 2011). Before the start of the season you’re never to know, but we’re going to be striving for promotion.”

“It was a tight division last year and I think it will be again this year. As the season was last year, there’s no teams who are massive frontrunners. We’re pretty confident we’ve got a good team.”

Park are also firmly focused on developing their pool of talented young players during a campaign which will begin with a trip to Ansty tomorrow (Saturday).

“We’ve got a mix of older players and younger players coming through,” Lindfield, 38, went on. “They’re coming of age and they’re good young players which is what we’re looking for.”

Park’s line-up will have a familiar look about it, although they will be without 2011 skipper Victor Walcott. The Barbadian fast bowler and hard-hitting batsman has moved to the north of the country.

Walcott’s absence will be offset, however, by the arrival of overseas player Dale Bryant, a batting all-rounder who plays at first grade level for Norths Cricket Club in Australia.

“It’s a massive blow losing Victor, but it does give an opportunity for some of the youngsters to come through,” continued Lindfield, who although a rookie first team skipper, has led the club’s 20-over team for five years.

Park (probable): Lindfield (c), Barry, Brookes, Payne, Smissen, Ayres, Menezes, Tong, Taylor, Bryant (overseas), Coleman.

See today’s Hastings and Battle Observers for the full article.