New faces at cricket club
Fakenham cricketers on Saturday start the new season which is expected to end the senior side's struggles in the East Anglian Premier League and see promotion for other teams to lead to a strengthening of the club as a whole, writes John Cushion.
Fakenham cricketers on Saturday start the new season which is expected to end the senior side's struggles in the East Anglian Premier League and see promotion for other teams to lead to a strengthening of the club as a whole, writes John Cushion.
They open their EAPL campaign at home to newcomers Halstead at Highfield Lawn, who have joined Saffron Walden in expanding the league to 12 clubs.
Sean Cooper has resumed the first team captaincy and has seen a pre-season re-structuring of coaching, dress codes and pre-match routines.
At a meeting earlier this year, Paul Dunger, who has taken over the second XI captaincy, made it clear players would not be allowed to play in their comfort zones. If they are needed by a more senior side, they will be expected to answer the call. He is joined by last year's first team and county fast bowler Ian Slegg.
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Cooper wants success on the field to match the superb playing facilities at Highfield Lawn and the hard work put in for the club behind the scenes.
Sri Lankan Indika de Seram has been brought in to strengthen the EAPL batting - although he may be delayed by the world Twenty20 competition - with other new faces including another Sri Lankan, Sanjaya Rodrigo who is studying a sports degree at York University, Angus Stewart (ex-Downham) and Joe Pitkin and James Brown (ex-North Runcton). Australian Keegan de Ridder returns as the second XI pro.
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Overseas players will be involved in coaching at all levels, including the flourishing youth section which is intended to supply fresh talent to all the Fakenham sides.
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