2025 SCCL Premier Division Preseason Preview

Captain : Callum Starling

 

Overseas Pro : Kuldeep Devatwal (IND) (returns)

As well as retaining last year’s pro Kuldeep Devatwal, despite much interest from elsewhere, Allscott have been very active in the transfer market with the standout signing being  Luke Thornton, the young Shropshire allrounder returning home after 4 years in the Birmingham League with Shrewsbury. Older brother Bradley is also back after making the same journey, while the much travelled and experienced Simmons brothers, Ian and Bryn have also joined after some time in the lower divisions at Column, although Ian is an injury doubt and has also joined the umpires panel. A fifth signing is Austin Rowley, part of the mass exodus from St Georges but another who has Premier experience.  All in all that gives new captain Callum Starling a welcome headache to fit everyone into a side that finished a very credible 7th last time, with the only departure being Jack Case who returns to Cound.

Captains View: “Ultimately our first aim is to maintain our premier league status. We are pleased we are attracting good quality players, getting Luke is a massive signing for us, he’s still young and he is equally good with bat and ball. Brad too has played a lot of top level cricket, and Ian and Bryn give us ability and competitiveness. Austin has impressed at nets and improves us in the field too, so it all adds to what we already had too which isn’t to be underestimated. I’m new to the job but will no doubt get some good advice from the two Jasons (Summers and Allen) The club both on and off the field is in a really good place at present and we are really excited for the season”

One to Watch: Luke Thornton will presumably bat in the top 3 and open the bowling, it’s a massive coup to pluck him out of the Birmingham League.

My Prediction: They could well be the best of the middle pack of teams. Interesting early test at Whitchurch who are sometimes slow starters. Their bowling attack has much more depth compared to last year with plenty of options for the new captain. 

Captain : Mark Mcpherson-Lees

Overseas: Jed Scwarzbach (Aus)

Cricket Meadow is back in the SCCL Premier after over two decades being used in the Birmingham League and opposing batsmen will be excited to use one of the best wickets in Midlands cricket. It’s all change on the field too with the vast majority of the 2024 1st team having moved on, as veteran Mark Mcpherson-Lees takes over the helm. He will use all his nous to try and restore some stability to the club and to that end he welcomes back the likes of Ian Gregory, Gaz Mumford and Pete Thompson who will all have to dig deep if they are to start to reverse the fortunes of this Shropshire giant. Matt Martin will be a big player too as he has produced decent numbers in the last few seasons, while the overseas who comes from Western Australia, will bat at the top of the order and offer some leg spin.

One to Watch: Arjun Cheruki is a young local lad who they have high hopes for as an opening bat.

My prediction. They will look to balance youth and experience and while there is no doubting the pedigree of the names above, it’s tough to rely on players over the age of 40 week in week out, as injuries and fitness take their toll. You would have to say right now they are one of the favourites to be fighting a relegation battle, so survival would be a solid achievement.

Captain & Overseas Pro : Jason Oakes (SA)

Jason Oakes is back for his 5th season in the SCCL and his 3rd as captain, and is putting the emphasis very much on a rebuilding phase, having lost a few senior players over the winter. Will Sparrow has retired, while Louis Watkins and Sam Roberts are unlikely to be playing much if at all. That piles the pressure onto the captain and Luke Miles and these two will have to really perform wonders to keep Ludlow competitive. They have signed Salahuddin Malik from Church Stretton, the left arm seamer has taken 124 wickets @ 12 in just under 3 seasons, and could well make his mark despite the obvious gap in Divisions. Deon Patel scored just shy of 400 runs last time, the captain will hope for a few more this time around.

Captains View: “We are looking forward to the season, it will be a challenge as its clear the league has improved, but we can still be very competitive and finish well up the league. We have lost a couple of senior players but that creates opportunities for others, but we think some recent new additions will add a lot to the club.”

My prediction: I can’t see a team with Oakes and Miles getting relegated but there is no doubt their batting looks a little vulnerable. Time will tell if they get sucked into the basement battle, I think they will just live to fight another day.

Madeley (2024: 8th)  

   

 

Captain: Martin Boyle  

Overseas Pro: Mithun Jayawickrema (SL) (returns)

Madeley hovered above the relegation zone last season but had enough in the locker to pull away, and a similar season may be welcome for all at Park Street. Martin Boyle is again at the helm and leads a strong looking bowling attack, boosted by the signing of Dan Kearsley and the return of Overseas pro Mithun, who had a decent year with the ball, but for whom the team will need more off with the bat as he failed to register a half century last time. Venerable gloveman Ian Walker has departed for Broseley and he will be missed, but the likes of Salim Ahmed, name sake Nadeem and Shazaib Shazaib are all solid performers at this level.

Captains View: “ We are aiming for a mid-table finish, I’m pleased with the squad we have and Dan Kearsley is a good signing, he’s a left arm quick who started at the club but has been playing recently in New Zealand. Also having Anil Kumar for a full season is great news he will open the batting for us”    

    

Ones to Watch : The captain sees batsmen Alex Holland and leggie Hamza Bhatti as good prospects when Uni commitments allow them to play. 

My prediction: Lack of big runs is a concern, no one made a score over 77 last season, so they will most likely be relying on their bowling attack to stay competitive. I do worry they could get dragged into a relegation fight, but they have a good captain who seems to inspire the team to find ways to win in the close games they often get embroiled in

The men from Mid Wales are back in the big time after storming to the Division One title in 2024  but have suffered a big setback with captain David Anthony snapping his Achilles playing football last week, which sadly sees his 2025 season likely over before it began. David Laird steps up from Vice-Captain, the experienced and well-travelled Laird will be absolutely crucial to their chances. He had a superb 2024, winning Divisional Player of the year, and his side will hope for more of the same. He certainly has the class to produce with bat and ball. Sam Baugh is a good pick up, the ex Bridgnorth and Shropshire  bowling allrounder, has recently been at Blythe in the North Staffs League.

Home form could be key to their campaign, they won 9 out of 10 at the Recreation Ground last year, and with crowds of over 100 often turning out, it can create a partisan atmosphere that they will be keen to exploit. Overseas Marco Malan is back for another stint and it will be interesting to see how he finds this level after scoring nearly 800 runs and taking 36 wickets in Division One, while Tom Anderson should go well also with the new ball, Anderson took 50 wickets last season.

Captains View:  Dave Anthony  “Our main task is to survive, we don’t want to be a “yo yo “club and the likes of Allscott and Shelton, traditional rivals of ours, are a blueprint for us. Sentinel first up is a good test for us and we are excited for the challenges ahead”

One to Watch: Young allrounder Griff Davies has been making a big name for himself in junior representative cricket, a quick bowling allrounder who will slot in at Number 7, according to the captain.

My prediction: They will certainly cause teams problems, probably more so at home, and could well survive despite losing their captain. Bowling is clearly their strength, but their batting could be exposed at times against some of the stronger teams, so I expect a few big wins and maybe some heavy defeats along the way.

Captain: Alex Biddle

Overseas Pro: Joshua Greff (SA)

It will be interesting to see if Quatt bare any scars after their painful stumble in the closing weeks of last season when a first title in the SCCL looked assured. New captain Alex Biddle will be keen to start a fresh chapter, and to that end welcomes back Chris Miller after his season ended early last time, as well as the vastly experienced Ben Byram from St Georges. Also joining the squad is promising bowler Alfie Oakes from Broseley, who will add to the competition for places. It certainly helps having their 2nd team in Division One, a situation many clubs will envy. Kuldeep Diwan hasn’t been retained despite taking 65 wickets and scoring over 400 runs in 2024, and so South African Joshua Greef has a tough job in matching that feat, presumably the runs will be easier to get than the wickets. Tom Whitney and Ryan Wheldon will no doubt be big players again, and the captain is probably the most versatile cricketer in the league. Unfortunately Olly Plank is unlikely to feature and his runs will be a big loss.

Captains View: “We go in every season thinking we’ve got a chance and this year is no exception, however it looks to be the strongest league it’s ever been so I’m not expecting anyone to run away with it. Kuldeep did great for us over the two years but we have decided to go in a different direction with Joshua Greef who has played in Lancashire and Lincolnshire in the past. Chris Miller is like a new signing he's a massive presence for us and his best mate Ben Byram has fitted in brilliantly already ”

My prediction: Well we have been here before haven’t we? If they can hit the ground running then they will be formidable opponents but they have the toughest start on paper of any side. The first game at St Georges could be a litmus test for both sides, but overall the loss of Kuldeep’s wickets looks a tough one to overcome if they are to finally win that title, and I think they will just fall short again.

Captain: Faizal Khan

Overseas Pro: Faizan Khan (Pak)

It’s been a tragic close season for the Dragons with the sudden passing at Christmas of Chairman Paul Taylor, a man who was respected throughout the league. 

On the field there has been a period of turbulence, with a large exodus of home grown players, the likes of Alex Johnson, Cam Watson (both Sentinel), Mike Myatt (Newport), Steve Taylor (Shifnal), Austin Rowley (Allscott) all departing. Last year’s captain Sam Morgan who led an incredible act of escapology which was only confirmed in the SCCL committee rooms, has stood down and his replacement is Faisal Khan. The new skipper has wasted no time in recruiting some star names including that of former Warwickshire left armer spinner Sunny Singh, opening bat Adil Ibrahim, and Waqar Ali who will take the new ball. Last year’s pro Faizan Khan who impressed everybody with his wicketkeeping and batting also returns in another big  boost for the Dragons.

Captains View: “We are pushing hard for the league, it’s a shame we have lost players, but we are excited to have Faizan back, he is massive for us, plus the other new signings show how ambitious we are as a club. We are a team full of surprises, and ready to pull off some magic. I think we will be league winners”

One to watch: Sunny Singh. He’s taken 5fers twice in the County Championship and you would expect him to take several in the SCCL, he really is a marquee signing for the Dragons

My prediction: This is a tough one to call. If they can hold it all together they could well be live contenders in the title race, but perhaps they need to walk before they can run. A pre-season win against Staffs League champions Fordhouses was a clear mark of intent however, so a top 3 finish is a real possibility.

Captain: Ed Ashlin

Overseas: Aaryan Dixit (AUS)

The Engines briefly flirted with relegation in 2024, but ultimately powered to a top half finish. Close season recruitment has again centred on signing young players who may well improve and in Alex Johnson from St Georges they have addressed the spin shortage highlighted in the end of season review, while his fellow dragon Cam Watson will add to an already decent array of seam options available to the captain. The overseas signing is Aaryan Dixit, a young batting allrounder from New South Wales who has played a mixture of 2nd and 3rd grade cricket, but Rico Fourie who impressed many observers last time could be a tough act to follow. On the plus side Ashlin is hoping to have talisman James Shaw a bit more available than in 2024 after his hip operation went well. The only player leaving has been Niall Salisbury who has moved to captain Condover in Division 4. 

Captains View: “We are happy with our recruitment, Alex and Cam will add experience, depth and quality in key areas, and they are at a good age to continue improving. Overall we hope we can be a competitive top half side, and improve on our position last year”

Ones to Watch: Jacob Binnersley was exceptional in his breakthrough season, could he push onto greater things this time? Tom Griffiths is someone who could take his game to the next level, he’s a quality old school opening bat. 

My prediction:  The age and balance of the squad is very good, but they also have enough experience to win games of cricket. They should be clear of relegation trouble but other clubs around them who have invested in professional overseas may have the edge to prevent the top half finish the captain hopes for.

Captain: Simon Jones

Overseas Pro: Abhishek Goswami (IND)

Shelton have it all on to repeat last year’s superb 4th placed finish but have made what appears  the standout overseas signing in the division in Abishek Goswani, the 27y old averages just shy of 50 in Indian first class cricket and is sure to plunder attacks throughout the summer. After a stressful winter Simon Jones is delighted to get Goswani over the line after other overseas options fell by the wayside. 

The captain will once again lead a useful seam attack, supported by Sam Griffiths, while he has high hopes for left arm spinner Ryan Cumming who has been netting at Loughborough. And no team should underestimate Ross Griffiths (although many do!) he took 36 wickets last time.  Ex County cricketer Greg Smith will hopefully play a few games when available, and Jones is delighted to retain Saleh Ahmed, who is a solid performer at this level.

Captains View: “We are excited to see Abishek on the field, he’s taken a while to establish himself in Indian First class, but his recent numbers are exceptional. We could have made more signings but we are looking at bringing our own crop of young players through and improving organically”

One to watch: Freddie Salisbury has inherited his father’s classical batting style and could hold down a top order place.

My prediction: 4th last year and if they could repeat it this time it would rank as a superb season. Could they break into the top 3? Unlikely, as they do need more consistency to challenge higher but I wouldn’t completely rule it out if the pro lives up to expectation.

Captain: Dan Vaughan

Overseas Pro: Brian Mudzinganyama (ZIM)

After a year away in the Birmingham League, the men from Orleton Park will be keen to pick up where they left off in 2023, with Dan Vaughan at the helm for the first time in the SCCL. Once again they have a young and hungry squad, with incomings including all-rounder Josh McDonald back after a couple of years at Shrewsbury, and Morgan Ward, a promising keeper who was behind county man Ben Lees at Shifnal for the gloves, and left for the pursuit of first team cricket. Toby Jones, a solid batter from Bomere Heath also arrives but they have lost Dinesh Perera to Wroxeter and Faheem Chohan to Dorridge, both decent players but maybe not irreplaceable

Captains View: “We aim to be as competitive as possible and strive to finish in the highest position, with a continued focus on developing our home grown players”

One to Watch: Oliver Smith really impressed a well-known Birmingham League Umpire  with his pace last year, is on the Worcester Pathway, and could be a dangerous operator with the new ball. He has also hit the ground running in pre-season with wickets against Shropshire and Penkridge.

My prediction:  Wellington are a traditionally fearless side and that may be crucial if they get involved in a title run in. The Win Lose format is their strength where they are brilliant at closing games out, the only question mark is the draw format may suit others more. But I still think they are the most likely league winners and have them as favourites right now.

Captain: James Astley

Overseas Pro: Karabo Mogotsi (SA)

New captain James Astley is playing it cool this year aiming for a top 4 finish, but anything less than that would be a disappointing  return for a squad, that despite releasing their pro for the last 2 years in Mohammed Irfan (now plying his trade in Middlesbrough), looks to have an overall stronger feel to it. Alex Ollerenshaw is back to spearhead the attack alongside Tom Astley, who did a lot of the heavy lifting last year, while the captain and younger brother Harry form a strong bowling unit together with the interesting signing of Tyler Ibbotson from Shrewsbury. Danny Cohen is unlikely to be available owing to injury, but new pro Karabo Mogotsi, who has recently been playing first class in South Africa will no doubt be decent at the top of the order. 

Captains View: “We are hoping to integrate some youngsters into the firsts at some stage, the likes of Dan Schofield, Bobby Langton and Ralph Davies all look good prospects for us, and Ralph’s dad Martyn will hopefully play the odd game for us from the 2nds, if he’s in form!”.

One to Watch: Ralph Davies looks an outstanding prospect, whether it’s a year too soon for him we wait and see, but the young off spinner looks the real deal. 

My prediction:  If their batting unit fires up better than it did in 2024, with the likes of Sam Peate, Chris Peel and Harry Chandler all capable of big runs, they could launch a title challenge but perhaps they may just find a couple of sides outgunning them. Solid top 4 finish as per the captain however.

Captain: Dan Bowen

     

Overseas Pro: None (at the time of writing)

Last year’s champions will be looking to pick up where they left off in 2024, when their incredible run of 18 wins in the last 20 games brought home the title. Misfortune followed in the Play-offs, when the fates really conspired against them, and they will be keen to give themselves another shot come the end of the season. Surprisingly their winter recruitment drew a blank and they go in with the same squad as last time, with Dan Bowen in charge defending a 90% win ratio as captain. He will once again draw on the likes of Mas Hasnain and Mohammed Fahim at the top of the order, while Shabbir Khan could justifiably lay claim to be the premier spin bowler in the SCCL now the Quatt and Wem pro’s from last year have departed the scene. They have been slow starters in recent seasons and will be keen to put that right on April 26th, but a pre-season loss to Walsall in the National KO, showed their batting can still be fragile at times. They do have some very talented youngsters coming through such as Ollie Dyson and Jake Van Cutsem who will put pressure on what is a slightly ageing squad.

Captains View: “It looks a stronger league than last year, but we are confident we can be in the mix again. We won’t take any team for granted that’s for sure, every game has to be fought hard and no side can be underestimated”

One to watch: Alex Heath. The young pace bowler has been on the radar of clubs higher up the pyramid, but he will be given every chance at Whitchurch to progress, and he carries a real threat with the new ball.

My prediction: I underestimated them last year much to the amusement of the patrons at Heath Rd, but it's rinse and repeat this time as I think others again have slightly superior line ups, particularly in the batting department. Fielding is also a concern, but the bowling unit is top drawer, no question. However it will only take a slight drop off to end up 4th or 5th in this very strong 2025 renewal.