Optimists just want to have fun says skipper

MARLBOROUGH TRUST OPTIMISTS are going to concentrate on having fun. They have the won the Weekend League for the last two seasons and have picked up trophies galore over the last few years.

But according their skipper and former island captain Andy Biggins, their success has clouded their enjoyment of the sport.

Maybe this new mindset might have something to do with the fact they were on the wrong end of the winter's biggest transfer when GH Smit decided to leave them. The hard-hitting South African has joined Mavericks.

It leaves a dent in their batting line-up and the odds of them retaining their crown have lengthened.

'If you take GH out of the equation, it does leave us a little light but realistically there are enough decent batsmen in the team that now have to score more runs,' said Biggns.

'I think we're happy that we're going to be underdogs slightly. We've probably got carried away too much with trying to win and we've not enjoyed our cricket as much.

'We're going to concentrate on that this year. Our aim is to qualify for the CI league and hopefully beat some decent sides on the way.

'We want to play some good cricket and play to our potential. If we pick up a trophy it's going to be a bonus.

'We're going to have some fun - that's the important thing.'

Without Smit, the batting responsibility falls heavily on the shoulders of Biggins and Ami Banerjee.

The captain is an attacking left-hander and when Banerjee is in good touch it is like bowling at a brick wall as he take runs at ease.

But the Indian does run hot and cold. Sometimes he is up for it and other times he is clearly not.

The same goes for his bowling.

He can bowl at a lively pace but only when he wants to.

Mark Clapham and Mark Jefferies, who are both capable of putting meaningful scores together, will open up, while Tim de Putron in the middle order can get quick runs with his flashing blade.

Wicketkeeper Ian Damarell can chip in some valuable runs down the order as well.

Promising 15-year-old batsman Adam Hindle who has been at the ICC Europe Development Programme Centre of Excellence in Spain this week, will no doubt play a role when he joins the team after Elizabeth College breaks up for the summer holidays.

The signing of all-rounder Tom Magson, who has recently arrived on the island, has also strengthened their batting. In his early 20s, Magson was playing his cricket with Ticknall in the Derbyshire Premier League.

In the bowling department Stephen Queripel with his nagging medium pace and should take the new ball with Chris van Vliet.

Van Vliet was a promising quickie and was involved with the island set up a few years ago before he went to university. He has since dropped off the radar somewhat, but by all accounts he is now firing on all cylinders and could be a handful for opposition's batsmen.

This will certainly be the case on the matting in the Evening League and when the grass wickets harden up later on in the summer.

'He's been working hard on his game,' said Biggins.

'It's like having an extra player having him back to his best.'

Wily veteran Mike Kinder, left-armer Paul Cooper, Banerjee and Magson will support van Vliet and Queripel.

The problem for Optimists is that they lack an experienced spinner. Jefferies and Biggins can both serve up their part-time off-spin while Clapham can turn his arm over with his slow leg cutters.

However, they have obtained young Elizabeth College leg spinner Ben McVey from Mavericks and he may prove to be a real boon for them this season.