Ambitious Whitchurch are without both of their winter captures as they embark on a new adventure in the Birmingham Cricket League second division this weekend.
The Heath Road club, promoted at the end of last season after several near misses, are looking forward to life at a higher level with batsman Simon Bowen back at the helm as captain after four years away from the post.
Bowen, previously in charge for seven years and the man who led Whitchurch into the Birmingham League, is excited about the dawn of a new season and says consolidation is the chief target as the countdown continues to Saturday’s opener at Tamworth.
But Whitchurch will be missing both of their new signings as overseas star Curtis Fourie is yet to arrive from South Africa while fast bowler Anthony Hill, an Essex lad currently at Loughborough University, is injured.
Prolific Pakistani pro Maisam Hasnain, about to begin his 12th season with the club, is no longer classed as an overseas player given the length of his service under Birmingham League rules. That’s why Whitchurch have been able to bring in talented all- rounder Fourie, who plays at a good level back home in Cape Town.
Fourie made a positive impact playing for Ellesmere in the FBC Manby Bowdler Shropshire League in the last two years and Bowen is confident he will be able to make the step up.
“Curtis should be here in time for our second game,” said Bowen. “He knows quite a few of our lads and has played for us in a few friendlies in the past.
“Anthony Hill comes to us highly recommended by Ian Gregory and he plays for Loughborough University’s second XI which is a good standard, but he’s injured at the moment.”
Bowen said division two was a step into the unknown for Whitchurch but he’s relishing the challenge ahead. “It’s all a bit unknown to us and, of our players, only Amjaad Ali Khan and the Gregory boys have played in the division before,” he said.
“We’ve just got to go into it and hope to hold our own and try and win as many games as we can.
“We start at Tamworth and as a club we’ve never played them before.”
Stalwarts Derek Ashley and Rod Jones have indicated they are not available for selection this term but Whitchurch are able to call on most of the men who helped them to promotion last season with Hasnain, Shropshire batsman Richard Oliver and Ali Khan all primed to play key roles.
That’s also the case with Dan Bowen, one of the captain’s sons, who had the thrill of taking two wickets on his Shropshire debut in last weekend’s easy KO victory over Cumberland at Shifnal.
WHITCHURCH (from): S. Bowen, M. Hasnain, R. Oliver, I. Gregory, S. Gregory, A. Ali Khan, S. Dimelow, D. Bowen, M. Tooze, M. Williams, S. Williams, A. Ince, E. Bowen, C. Rowe.
By Stuart Dunn