HEAD coach Dan Housego believes Wokingham Cricket Club will continue to grow and get stronger this year, writes Dave Wright.

“We had a fantastic 2017 and I am confident we will do very well again this year,” he said.

Looking at the first team now playing in the Home Counties Premier League following their promotion, Housego continued: “We have an exceptionally young side which for me is what club cricket is all about – producing young people to play at a higher level.

“We have experience in myself, Michael Bates, Simon Myles and Stuart Hayter and it is our job to make sure we keep pushing the young guys to reach their true potential.”

While some clubs are already struggling to fulfil third and fourth team fixtures, Wokingham are able to field six sides.

“We had nearly 70 players available last Saturday and that meant a few had to miss out,” added former Gloucestershire and Middlesex batsman Housego.

“From a club perspective that is fantastic, but obviously what comes with that is player expectation, wanting to play in higher teams. It does mean there is plenty of competition for places.”

Wokingham’s club captain Cameron Gillespie, in his eighth season with the Oaks, commented: “I feel the club and all teams have never been in a better position to excel both on and off the field. We have gone from strength to strength.”

Wokingham’s first home league game of the season was abandoned due to rain last Saturday with Oaks dismissed for 152 – from 73-9 – against Datchet after last man Paul Dewick made 64 not out.