Devon Cricket Board - Dowling impressed by 'professional' outlook

Dowling impressed by 'professional' outlook

NEW Stoke Gabriel skipper Josh Dowling is trying to make the B Division new boys a bit more professional this season.

Dowling was first with Stoke back in 2004 – he scored more than 600 runs that year - and a lot has changed since then, on and off the field.

Stoke have new dressing rooms and nets and finally got out of the C Division last season. They had been there since 2001, which was quite long enough!

There are some serious teams in the B Division and Dowling wants to make Stoke one of them. So far the signs are encouraging for the Aussie batter.

“When I was first here no one had heard of training – last week we had 20-odd,” said Dowling.

“The place is buzzing and with the players we have got I can see us upsetting some good teams this year.

“The big challenge for captains is getting to grips with the new rules for win-lose cricket and power plays.

“I have been reading up on the rules now to make sure I don’t miss anything.”

Stoke’s strength in recent seasons has been the production line of young talent coming through into the 2^nd and then 1^st XIs.

Players to watch out for this season are batter Jack Tolley, seamer Angus Lee and Seb Ansley.

New to the Eastleigh ground is Kris Davis, who was with Kingskerswell last season and at Torquay before that. He bowls off-spin and bats and is a handy signing.

Back at Stoke for a second spell is Mark Newman, at least he will be once registration formalities are squared away.

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