Woodroffe back as Sidley skipper

It will be the right-handed batsman and left-arm spin bowler’s third stint in charge having previously led the side for the last nine games of the 2002 season and all of 2003 and 2004, and again in 2007.

Experienced batsman Chris Hunnisett was elected skipper at Sidley’s Annual General Meeting back in the autumn, but has had to step down due to changing work commitments.

Woodroffe’s efforts to get Sidley competing towards the top of the division will be boosted by the presence of Paul Swannell, who has played Minor Counties cricket for Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire.

Thirty-year-old all-rounder Swannell, a close friend of Sidley wicketkeeper Paul Thompson, will be joined at Gullivers by overseas player Ahmed Saleh, a 19-year-old South African bowling all-rounder.

Sidley will begin their campaign with a trip to Burgess Hill on Saturday April 30 and their opening home game will be against Seaford seven days later.