7/5/2008

Sport

Cricket - Weybridge skipper aims for promotion

WEYBRIDGE captain Abeed Janmohamed says promotion to the Premier Division of the Surrey Championship is his aim this season.

“The challenge for us is to win 10 games out of 18 to get us there or there abouts and I have no doubt we can do that,” he said.

Janmohamed, who, in his third season with Weybridge,  has replaced Gavin Franklin as skipper, said his side have had an encouraging pre-season, tying their final friendly with Premier Division Sutton on Saturday and beating Bank of England in the opening round of the Cockspur Cup on Sunday.

Janmohamed said: “It was a good weekend for Weybridge and a good start to build on for the season.”

Having lost only one player from last year — Chris Walsh — to retirement, Weybridge have added several new names to the roster.

Janmohamed said retaining so many of last year’s side and adding new players had made Weybridge stronger than last season.

“On the whole, things are starting to take shape, which is good,” he said.

“We have the nucleus of an experienced squad as well as  our four youngsters — Tom Winslade, Akbar Ansari, Zafar Ansari and Seren Waters.

“All four played in the first team last year and they will return to us from school and university at the end of June and add considerable strength to the side.

“Early in the season we will field an experienced side and have some youth to come in in June or July.”

He said preparations for the new campaign had been improved further by the completion of work on Weybridge’s clubhouse, which included a redevelopment of the team changing facilities.

“Off the pitch things are settled and on the pitch things are looking pretty settled so we just need a good start to the season,” he said.

Playing in Division One, Weybridge face a challenging season ahead, including a rash of derby matches against Elmbridge rivals Esher, Walton and East Molesey.

However, Janmohamed has no doubt that Weybridge’s stiffest test will be set by their old foes from New Road.

“Esher have got a decent side this year and will be the side to beat,” he said.

“I see them and us around the promotion places at the end of the season.

“Farnham, also, are a decent side and know how to play on their wicket, which is key.

“It will be a tough league. We have got to start quickly and take our chances.”

Janmohamed expected other teams to try to thwart his side’s attack, but he was confident Weybridge would still get the results they need.

“There will be a lot teams who will not want to lose to us and will play defensively,” he said.

“But in Grant Elliott and David Court we have two very experienced, canny seam bowlers, while on the spin side  Chris Notton is going to play for the first part of the season and they can all take wickets.”

Weybridge’s league campaign gets under way at Hangar Hill on Saturday when they host Anthony Down’s Beddington side.

First printed in: News & Mail Series