Devon Cricket Board - Braunton rebuilding from within

Braunton rebuilding from within

A DIVISION
ABBOTSKERSWELL’S new captain Richard Lake is looking for an improvement this season at Two Mile Oak.
Abbots finished sixth last season and were never really troubled by thoughts of promotion or relegation fears.
Lake arrived late in the campaign and played a handful of games before injury ruled him out.
Previously he played for Bristol in the West of England Premier League and looked full of runs in his handful of appearances.
The first team squad has lost batter and former off-spinner Steve Short to retirement, but the old guard of Mike Pugh and Marcus Green remain.
New to the club is paceman Phil Allen, who is travelling down from Bristol to play. Lake stresses the two were not team-mates in the past.
Looking forward Lake said: “I would like us to improve on sixth spot if we can.”

FORMER Somerset and England batsman Mark Lathwell is back in cricket… as 2nd XI skipper and groundsman at A Division side Braunton.
Lathwell ‘retired; from league cricket two seasons ago but was spotted having the odd game last season just to help out.
With two lads of his own coming through the ranks, the one-time run machine seems to have rediscovered his enthusiasm for the game.
And 1st XI captain Jon Baglow is delighted to have Lathwell senior firmly back in the fold.
“Mark Lathwell is the new groundsman and has done a good job so far,” said Baglow.
“We have had work carried out on the square and the ground is looking the best is has for a few years now.
“Looking to the future, Mark is running the 2nd XI as a Development Squad to play four or five youngsters each week to ready them for 1st XI cricket.
“In the North Devon League we have already seen an U16 bowling attack in Sam and Jason Lathwell, Alfie Huxtable, Callum Mitchell and Dan Crocombe. 2012 will be an experience for these guys but they are the future of the club and we are moving in the right direction with the right people in charge of it.”
Baglow admitted the winter had been a frustrating time for him as attempts to bolster the 1st XI squad largely failed.
“I approached probably 15 players to join, with no luck,” said Baglow.
“A range of reasons were given from wanting to help current teams progress through leagues and not wanting to step up,
“We had a player agree to join only to lose his job and not want to move - and players asking for around £100 a game.
*The club have decided not to have an overseas player this season. In the financial climate our budget has been allocated elsewhere.”
Braunton have lost Jason Hayes back to North Devon, but gained Lawrence May from Barnstaple & Pilton. Batter May will feature in the second half of the season when his school ties are over.
Baglow said having Tom Mitcham available all season now he has left school is almost like having a new player. He is tipping Harry Booker and Jaz Kalsi as players to watch out for this season.
On Braunton’s prospects he said: We need to start well, and if we do anything can happen.
“I think we will be a top half team and will be competitive in the big games.
“The main thing I am looking for is consistency in team selection.
“Last season I used 23 players and it was much the same in 2010.
In 2009 when we were promoted to the Premier we only used 15 players.
“If we can put together a settled side where players know and understand their role in the team, I think we could be a match for anyone on our day.”
*Braunton’s season starts with a trip to Abbotskeswell this Saturday.

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