2003 Southern Premier League opens up

BAT Sports look to Kiwi import Neal Parlane to give their ECB Southern Electric Premier Cricket League challenge a perfect lift off against Bournemouth at Chapel Gate on Saturday, 1 o'clock.

Parlane, 24, has replaced Kenya World Cup opener Kennedy Otieno as BAT's overseas player this season - and he comes with a useful run scoring CV.

The New Zealander, who bats no 3 behind Black Caps star Matthew Bell for Wellington, has scored a welter of runs for Fleetwood & Hesketh in the ECB Liverpool Competition for the past three seasons and is known to be a steady accumulator of big scores.

"He could be a perfect signing for us," said skipper Richard Dibden. "Top order stability is just what we need."

BAT, pipped by three points to the title by Havant last season, will rely on their tried and trusted squad, with Dan Goldstraw spearheading the attack.

The former Lymington left-armer has taken over 90 wickets in the past two seasons.

Bournemouth, familiar mid-table settlers, will include all-rounder Adam Voges - a team mate of Luke Rochi's in the Western Australia state side - against BAT.

A former Australia Under-19 batsman and left-arm spinner, Voges captains WACA Grade club Melville and played four times for Western Australia earlier this year.

Voges, recommended to Bournemouth by Hampshire coach Paul Terry, is expected to be among the leading lights in Premier League cricket this summer.

The Perth youngster hit 60 in Bournemouth's pre-season warm up game against Dorset last weekend and, according in Chapel Gate's Director of Cricket Richard Scott, looked a class act.

"Having only arrived in England the previous morning, he was still jet lagged, but looked a very good player indeed," praised Scott.

Seasoned WACA Grade all-rounder Brad Thompson is set for his Bashley (Rydal) debut against Calmore Sports at the BCG.

A former captain of Perth CC, Thompson is a prominent top order batsman and off-spin bowler with more than 200 A-Grade games under his belt.

Thompson, signed by Bashley as a replacement for Luke Ronchi, hit 60 in his debut match for the New Forest club last weekend.

Calmore Sports, who are expected to be among the Premier League strugglers this term, have snared Hythe & Dibden's South African all-rounder Eugene Bursler, who has played for Hampshire YC's for the past two summers.

Weakened by the departure of left-hander Jez Goode, Calmore will rely heavily on Kent trialist James Hibberd, who won the SPL's prestigious Young Cricketer award last year.

Defending champions Havant have unwanted problems to contend with on the eve of their opening title defence at Andover, who set the early pace last term.

Wicketkeeper Steve Snell is expected to be sidelined for six weeks with a badly broken jaw - he was injured in an MCC YCs practice net session at Lord's last week - while opening bowler Mackie Hobson may miss large chunks of the season due to work commitments.

Promising New Milton based all-rounder David Wheeler will be a key absentee when the Hampshire Academy make their Premier 1 debut against South Wilts on the Rose Bowl Nursery Ground.

Along with Chris Benham, Wheeler is suffering from back problems and may be out of action for some while.

Former Hampshire opener Giles White will captain the Young Hawks and have Iain Brunnschweiler and Charlie van der Gucht as his first lieutenants.

Calmore prospect Matt Metcalfe, who works on the Rose Bowl groundstaff, is set for his Academy debut, while Jason Laney - released by Hampshire at the end of last season - lines up for South Wilts.

Spearheading the Bemerton attack is Australian Jimmy Seeary, who plays VCA A-Grade cricket for South Melbourne, alongside Gloucestershire's Roger Sillence and Greg Cox, who joins Havant in late May.

Portsmouth areaiming for a major title push this term under former Hampshire all-rounder Lee Savident, who will have one-time county teammate Matt Keech at his side.

Andrew Locke, the Gauteng B all-rounder, is Portsmouth's overseas player this summer.

Among Portsmouth's new recruits is Neil Randall, who could play against his former Liphook & Ripsley team-mates at St Helen's, Southsea on Saturday.

Havant-bound Chris Wright has also departed the Liphook scene, leaving South African Ali Gray will a massive run scoring burden on his shoulders.