The Rams are ready for a Big Bash………….

Sawston and Babraham are again at home this week against Copdock and Old Ipswichians. After two relatively comfortable victories against two weakened sides the Rams know that they must up their game against one of the fancied sides of EAPL 2022. They will be wary of a side that has inflicted one of the rare home defeats at Spicers.

They have recruited well and have added Sam Athurton, arguably the top batsman in the competition, and Michael Comber, a proven EAPL player, to what was already an impressive top four. This strength in depth was highlighted last week when Donald Mlambo found himself at number seven last week. Last time out at Spicers, on the last day of 2021, he helped himself to a fine hundred. Comber will strengthen the bowling that will also feature Suffolk spinners Freddie Heldreich and Jack Beaumont, as well as EAPL 2021 thirty wicket man Chris Swallow. They also have a victory over Swardeston on their 2022 record but tasted opening day disappointment against Mildenhall.

The Rams can finally introduce their overseas Peter Hatzoglou, unless his Adams Harrison T20 debut on Wednesday hasn’t put him off. Peter for those that don’t know performed brilliantly in the Big Bash (the Pro T20 Franchise tournament in Australia). We are also fortunate to welcome back first day hero Nathan Buck, we thank Northamptonshire County Cricket Club for releasing him as he gets back to full fitness.

The skipper will be hoping that his talisman Ben Clilverd will continue to fire with bat and ball, that the batting unit all continue to contribute and that the seam attack finally get some overdue luck. The Rams have no injury concerns and also welcome back Noah Thain who was missing last week. So, we are perhaps at full strength.

This is also fantastic news for the Rams Second string as they welcome back last year’s skipper and leading run scorer Ben Benson and new signing Callum McLean whom both have played their part in helping the firsts to victories this year. McLean who has featured for the Cambridgeshire U-25 and Full County side in recent years will welcome getting some overs under his belt. They also welcome their own overseas, a teenage opening bowler from Perth, Chris Dixon.

In normal circumstances the loss of their 2021 top bowler Jake Raven would be huge, however, they have been fortunate to pick up the vastly experienced Steve Atherton. ‘Athers’ is also a left arm spinner. On the batting front Ben Benson will be missing his opening partner Josh Jordan, with whom he shared three century partnerships last year. Josh will be available from June when he finishes School! Skipper Nick Griggs will be looking to Ant Phillips and Marc Pearson to continue where they left off (both scored hundred’s last time out), to add substance along with himself to the middle order. Scott Stanford who has been a regular in the last few seasons, scoring valuable runs and taking his share of wickets will be another absentee this term as they start life in Whitings Two (the highest ever division the 2nd team has played at). They start their program with a trip to Waresley.

The Third XI again led by Jake Ellis will also be in unfamiliar territory following their own promotion last year. Jake has the returning Jas Metson and Ian Smith to bolster his side, which will also feature ‘longer term’ absentee Gareth Everson. He will be looking for runs from his top order featuring the evergreen Wes Potschul and the ever Ginger Oliver Borley in the absence of Sid Siddharth. He has high hopes of runs and wickets from new signing Sanish Gopolan. They start their CCA Junior 2S campaign away to Barley. This could be a tricky test as Barley were a Senior League outfit no so long ago and you never know what bandits will appear up in those ‘mountains’.