Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League

FORMER Durham 2nd and Buckinghamshire batsman Ricky Hopwood makes his Aston Rowant debut at home to Falkland in Division 2 West tomorrow.

The opener comes in for seamer Will Rooney as Rowant look to bolster their batting after two poor displays.

The 24-year-old new signing, who hit two centuries for Bucks in a Minor Counties Championship match in 2009, also plays rugby for nearby Chinnor.

“Ricky was at Tring before and took some time out,” said Rowant captain Wesley Morrick.

“He is a very good player and a nice guy as well.

“We thought we had enough batters last week (when they were dismissed for 106 by Reading).

“But Ricky will certainly give us a boost.”

Rowant have lost their last two matches, but Morrick remains calm.

“It is a strong league and there are some capable sides, but we are still confident,” he said.

“We just need to get back on track.”

Oxford add seamer Stefan Van Dyk and spinner Shami Mendis, who hopes to shrug off an ankle problem, to their squad to host Reading.

Skipper Ian Crosby praised Great & Little Tew, whose 27-run victory knocked Oxford off top spot last week.

But he stressed: “It is certainly not panic stations, but we need to address the areas where we were disappointing.

“We didn’t play well all day. You won’t win many games of cricket from 50-5.”

Despite the side’s excellent start to the campaign, Great & Little Tew skipper Andy Harris is not getting carried away.

Successive victories over Oxfordshire rivals Aston Rowant and Oxford have lifted newly-promoted Tew to second spot.

“We’re delighted with those wins, but we’ve achieved nothing yet,” said Harris. “After all, Shipton won four times and still went down."

Harris said the key to their success has been belief and teamwork.

“We decided last season to play aggressive cricket – and have stuck with the same formula after getting promoted.”

Tew make just one change for their trip to struggling Hampshire side Cove, with batsman Ed Groves coming in for Rob Catling.

TOMORROW’S TEAMS

Aston Rowant (v Falkland, home): Shirazi, Hopwood, Morgan, Ferraby, Watling, Hammond, Cook, Morrick (capt), Muttitt, Matthews, Penhale.

Great & Little Tew (v Cove, away): Smith, White, Groves, Slatter, Hubbert, Brock, Megson, Shurmer, Harris (capt), Woods, Manley.

Oxford (v Reading, home): from Perkin, Perera, Laudat, Clough, Godsell, Vainker, Crosby (capt), Hole, I Evans, Sutherland, Geeson-Brown, Van Dyk.