Cricket season preview - Crowhurst Park

The 2010 East Sussex League and InterSport of Lewes Trophy double winners will make their Sussex League debut with a home game against Uckfield Anderida in Division Three (East). Play will start at 1pm.

Park captain Victor Walcott said: “Everyone at the moment is more than looking forward to it. The guys are eager to get out and start the season off in a positive way.”

Uckfield finished just seven points off the bottom last season and lost 11 of their 17 completed matches so Telham-based Park will be optimistic of getting off to a winning start.

Young talents Chris Philcox and Josh Willis return this year, helping to provide a nice mixture of youth and experience. Neither played last season, Willis because he was recovering from a long-term injury.

“We’re looking a bit stronger if everything goes according to plan,” continued 49-year-old fast bowler Walcott. “The bowling is probably not as strong as I would like it, but we’ve got a really strong batting order.”

Walcott was a member of the Barbados national team which included Malcolm Marshall, Joel Garner, Desmond Haynes and Gordon Greenidge for seven years, and was on standby for the West Indies’ tour to Pakistan in 1991.

He went on: “I would love to do a bit more than consolidate. I know it’s the first season and some of the guys haven’t played to that standard, but I would like to finish in the top five and I think we can do that.

“If we can start positively, it will build the youngsters’ confidence up as well as the older guys. With everybody going out there and backing each other up - like we did last year - I think we can finish right up there.”

Park should be at full strength tomorrow with the exception of Paul Lindfield.