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LUDLOW Cricket Club first team will have a new face at the helm when they begin their 2008 Shropshire Premier League campaign in April.

Club stalwart Steve Small will replace Rob Hodgson, the Australian professional quick bowler, who will not be returning to the club.

Small has been a member of the club for 27 years but this will be his first time in charge of the senior side.

Joining Small in the first team will be Ali Raza, a Pakistani medium-quick bowler who is useful with the bat. Ali is perhaps better known on the hockey field, having represented Pakistan at two Olympic Games, playing full back.

Ali is based in Birmingham, where he is a hockey coach. He has put his cricket career on hold in the past in order to concentrate on his hockey, but has also netted with the Pakistan national cricket team.

Other than the change of professional, Small will be basically relying on the relatively young squad from last year. He is hoping that they will have benefited from their experience last season, when a number of them were thrown in at the deep end.

Oswestry have been promoted from the Shropshire Premier League to the Birmingham League, but will be replaced by Wem who were relegated last term. At the other end of the table Much Wenlock have replaced relegated Market Drayton.

Mark Burgoyne will captain the second team and Leon Burnley the thirds, while Phil Parker is the secretary and Nick Goldthorp, the treasurer. Small will combine his captaincy duties with those of vice-chairman, where he will continue to support chairman William Moore.

Nets are planned to start in March, at Moor Park School. Anyone interested in joining them should contact Small (07759-197194) for details.

4:57pm Friday 1st February 2008

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