5:28pm Thursday 9th July 2009
By Ed Mezzetti
Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League
Banbury captain Ian Hawtin has rung the changes as his side bid to stay in Division 1 title contention.
Hawtin has dropped three men for Saturday’s trip to High Wycombe, with opening batsman Chris Smith and vice-captain Jimmy Phillips both demoted to the seconds.
Phillips’s brother Ed is the other omission as Ian Tew, Shahbaz Ali and left-arm spinner Paul Hill return.
Hawtin said: “We are half way through the season and have had a review of how we are doing.
“Some guys have done well in the second team and deserve to come in.
“Chris Smith is looking to score some runs. Hopefully he can get some form back in the second team.
“The same is true in terms of bowling with Jimmy Phillips.
“It is a shame we are a bit behind Henley, but we have got to take that challenge on and win some games.”
One player who impressed after coming into the side last week was Ashley Blanchard, who took 4-39 in their defeat to Tring Park.
Hawtin said: “He batted quite well and bowled very well, so we were really pleased with him. He keeps his place on merit.”
Joe Porter and Graham Charlesworth return to Oxford’s 13-man squad for their home game against Welwyn Garden City.
Porter will now be available all summer after missing much of the first half of the season due to school commitments.
Oxford dropped to seventh in the table after last week’s home drubbing by Potters Bar, but skipper Jason Harrison remains positive.
“Everyone from eighth up to second is very, very close. There is probably a win in it,” said Harrison.
“Henley have the lead. We have to hope they get a little bit negative in their thinking.
“The rest of the teams must keep the pressure on. I know we will.”
Aston Rowant bring in Chris Eaton for Chris Davis as they visit Falkland in Division 2 West.
Having already won four matches, Rowant are only 22 points off top spot.
Captain Wesley Morrick said: “We are bringing in an extra batsman because Falkland’s is a flat wicket.
“Recently, the guys have just put their hands up and the youngsters are starting to understand what this league is about.”
Batsman Tom Hogan, a teacher at Oxford’s Magdalen College School, returns for Thame Town’s trip to Wokingham, with Chris Jeffcock dropping to the seconds.
Thame enter the match in good shape following last week’s four-wicket victory at Basingstoke & North Hants.
Skipper Rob Brooks said: “I think we have played well for the last three weeks.
“Last week we got the boundaries in the middle overs when we needed.
“I would expect this game will be another high-scoring one.”
Banbury (v High Wycombe, away): Shirazi, Tew, Haupt, Si Hole, Shahbaz Ali, Bullick, Hawtin (capt), Ryan, Blanchard, Jamil Faruq, Hill.
Oxford (v Welwyn Garden City, home): from Sandbach, Harrison (capt), Laudat, Ferraby, Porter, Charlesworth, Crosby, Perkin, St Hole, Mendis, Hutcheson, Vainker, R Evans.
Aston Rowant (v Falkland, away): Morgan, Miles, Jewell, Lyon, Watling, Morrick (capt), Penhale, Eaton, Dutton, Humphreys, Cooper.
Thame Town (v Wokingham, away): P Patel, Parmar, Beard, Higgs, Brooks (capt), L Merry, Barnett, Bhatti, Lachlan, S Patel, Hogan.
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