On the eve of the 2022 Home Counties Premier League, Division 2 season, we preview each club ahead of the exciting new campaign.
Division 2
Oxford Downs will be captained by Tom Costley, who has one addition to his 2021 squad.
Costley is currently awaiting the arrival of David Schierhout ahead of the opening game.
Schierhout is a South African spinner who has experience in the UK; Over the 2017 and 2018 seasons, playing for GMCL (Greater Manchester Cricket League) clubs Brooksbottom (Div 2) and Heyside (Div 1) respectively, Schierhout took 101 wickets at 15.84 alongside 723 runs, to include the highest score of 151 (160 balls).
Schierhout made his first-class debut (19 December 2019) for Western Province, and his List A debut followed suit. The left-arm tweaker didn’t disappoint, taking 11 wickets at 18.18 in his 4 first-class matches to round out a successful 2019/20 domestic season.
After a strong start to his domestic career, Schierhout was elevated to the Cape Cobras squad for the 2020/21 season.
Stephen Croft takes the captaincy at Harefield where he replaces Dan Ogden, who stood down.
Croft has signed New Zealand overseas Nick Kelly from Otago, Owen Marshall (Ickenham), Danny Walker (Langleybury – Hertfordshire League) and Munjor Rajasansir (Ealing – Middlesex League).
The new captain has already guided Harefield in to the league’s T20 Final’s Day with Kiwi Kelly smashing scores of 125 not out and 109 in a very impressive debut.
Northants Academy opener Aatish Anthathi is one to watch for Harefield.
Lee Tyrrell has opted to join Potters Bar.
Great Brickhill continue to look to build in the north of Buckinghamshire under the guidance of experienced Garth Davson.
With Oxfordshire skipper Jonny Cater the club’s Player/Coach, Brickhill have the highly talented, Northants Academy youngster Aadi Sharma available for the second half of the season due to Stowe School commitments. Sharma debuted with 21 on Thursday (5th May) for the county second string against Worcestershire.
After safely staying in the league at the first full attempt, Wargrave will be looking to kick on in 2022.
Neal Robinson has added Sulaiman Javed (Burnham) and Joe Priestley (Swarkestone), while Jack Winterbottom (Sunbury) and Euan Woods (Henley) have re-joined to the club. Woods, who lives on site as his Father has been the club’s groundsman for the last 30 years, returned after six years away.
The extra year sees promising youngsters continue to evolve; Toby Greatwood, the rookie all-rounder at Middlesex, Sravan Konidena, just 17 years old, is on the MCCU scheme at Oxford University (a year early) and Rhys Lewis, who at 17, is on the Middlesex academy.
Departed is Imran Malik (Wokingham), Mishan Silva – (overseas) Slough, and Sam Warren (Hurst).
Horspath have Patrick Foster in command after Lloyd Belcher stepped down at The Rec.
Foster’s club announced the signing of South African all-rounder Imraan Manack as their overseas player for the 2022 Home Counties Premier League campaign.
The 30-year-old from Johannesburg takes over from Indian paceman Anupam Sanklecha, who has been unable to obtain a visa to return as he hasn’t played any first-class cricket in the last year.
Described as a towering off-spinner, Manack has 28 first-class appearances under his belt, taking 51 wickets at an average of 35.90.
His best figures of 5-78 came on his debut for Easterns against Border at East London in 2013. By coincidence, he was dismissed by Darryl Brown, who made a big impact as Horspath’s overseas player in 2018 and 2019, before gaining his revenge by including the all-rounder in his haul.
Now with Boland Rocks, he has also scored 509 first-class runs.
Also joining are fast bowler Justin Clarke – a former professional Australian Rules footballer – and off-spinner Saqlain Choudhary. The pair are at Oxford UCCE.
Sam Helm takes charge of Amersham for his third season at their beautiful Shardeloes ground.
Madhuka Liyanapathiranage is back for his seventh season as the club’s overseas, Harry Petrie joins Amersham this year after breaking into the Hampshire 2nd team last season at 18 years old. The young fast bowler was selected by England U19 to play against the West Indies and will be available for selection when not on Hampshire two’s duty.
Amersham also welcome the Parmar brother’s to the club this season. Manam (opening batsman) and Harsh (leg spinner & middle order batsman) have joined from North Middlesex CC. Adam Francis (left handed top order batsman) also joins from Beaconsfield in Thames Valley League, Division 1.
Helm also is very pleased to be able welcome back Rob Viney after a year out due to illness.
Promising young players to look out for this season at Amersham; Archie Palmer broke into the 1’s last season, and made the move to the top of the order towards the end of the season where he averaged 25. Now 19, he has had a solid pre-season averaging 33 opening up.
Harry Fanning started the preseason with a match winning 104* at Ickenham. The 17 year old is still at school so not around for the start of the season. He made his 1st team debut last year after starting the year out in the threes.
Henry Ferneyhough unfortunately looks to be out injured for the 2nd successive season due to requiring a 2nd operation on his knee. The young fast bowler made his 1’s debut in 2020 and would have been a sure fire pick this season.
After their dramatic escape on the final day of the season, Chesham have recruited the vastly experienced South African Richard Levi for the forthcoming season. Levi, who has played in the IPL for Mumbai Indians, has donned the colours of Somerset and, more recently Northants.
Following their relegation from the top flight, Tring Park have had five players leave so worked hard on their recruitment over the winter.
Mo Choudhry is back after a year not playing. Matt Smalley-Harris has joined from Herts league club Boxmoor. Naveed Dawlatzai has joined from South Hampstead. Park have youngster’s Charlie Barrett, Hector Charlesworth and Freddie Thompson all joining the 1st team squad along with 14 year old Kit Newman from the colts who is a Herts and Essex pathway player
After relegation, Thame Town have rebuilt during the close season.
Hassam Mushtaq is taking over the captaincy from Mike Beard. A handful of players have moved on, but recruitment has been strong – Farid Butt, Alex Browne and Kashif Nizami joining the club. Youngster Luke Hayes is in line to make the step up to the 1st XI this season.
Cumnor take their place after winning the Cherwell League, Division 1 in 2021.
Harry Ackland topped the averages with the bat (57.89) and took 17 wickets, while team-mate Tom Powell claimed 34 poles.
Sulaiman Hussain has moved to Cumnor from Horspath.
As always with promotion, Will Bull’s side will be looking to establish themselves in the division as the club continues to grow.
