THAME’S promotion to the Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League has been approved.

The Cherwell League Division 1 champions had been waiting to hear if they had passed a ground inspection in order to return to the league in which they were relegated from in 2012.

But Home Counties Premier League secretary Peter Tomlin confirmed they had been given the thumbs-up this week.

“Thame have been accepted,” he said.

“There are one or two pieces of work to do to the ground, but they have been promoted.”

Meanwhile, Westbury will be accepted into the Cherwell League provided clubs agree to their inclusion at the annual meeting.

The Oxfordshire Cricket Association champions, who also won the Airey Cup, applied to join the league two years after turning down the chance.

“The time is right for the club to move up a league if we want to progress,” said Westbury captain Richard Tredwell.

“We’ve got a side full of youngsters and we would risk losing some of them, if we didn’t seek to play a better grade of cricket.”

However, the 48-year-old won’t be leading Westbury into their new era.

“I’ve been captain for 18 of the last 19 seasons,” he revealed.

“It’s an ideal time for a younger man and Tom Wilson will be taking over.”