Injury concerns as South Wilts prepare for title defence

But it remain to be seen whether their two big gun signings – Hampshire’s Sean Terry and Ryan Duffield, the Western Australia left-arm swing bowler – play in the same team this weekend.

Duffield is certain to share the new ball with James Hibberd, but it’s touch and go whether Terry joins him in the South Wilts line-up.

The 23-year old opener retired hurt with a badly bruised arm on the first day of Hampshire’s Second XI match against Middlesex in midweek and may not be fit enough to partner skipper Tom Morton at the top of the South Wilts order.

It was the same right arm that Terry broke facing former England bowler Chris Tremlett when Hampshire played Surrey in a pre-season friendly at Guildford in April 2013.

Terry was worried that he had broken his arm again, but X-rays revealed only severe bruising – an injury he will be conscious to fully recover from before he returns to the professional circuit.

If Terry is ruled unfit, Joe Cranch will come in, with in-form Eddie Abel moving up to open alongside Morton.

Abel’s early season form for South Wilts – he has so far made scores of 110 against Bournemouth, 83 at Falkland and 24 in the rained off visit to Corsham last weekend – has been a real high spot.

“To be fair, all the top order batsmen have got some very decent middle practice under their belts and made runs, so we hope to hit the ground running against the Academy on Saturday,” said Morton, who has also made some good scores.

The only absentee at the Ageas Bowl is Jack Mynott, who is still at Loughborough University.

Duffield’s arrival – he has 89 first class wickets to his name in Australia – has given the already potent South Wilts attack a significant boost.

There is no shortage of spin options as well, with Abel, Jake Foley, Rob Franklin and James Hayward among the best in the Premier League.

South Wilts are red hot favourites to land a fourth straight title – but Morton is playing things down.

“I don’t necessarily agree with this statement. We have strengthened our squad, but this is in accordance to the change in league rules and as a result of other clubs signing good cricketers as well.

“We set high standards and have performed well in recent years, the pressure is set by ourselves to maintain these.

“I think Bashley (Rydal) will be a strong side. They have a good captain and some young lads reaching the right age.

“I have heard of some other good signings over the winter: Burridge seem to have been very active on the recruitment front, whether they can pull this altogether is hard to say at this stage. “Whatever happens, I think you’ll see more upsets this season with quite a few match winners joining the league.”

Hampshire Academy will parade an all-youth side, including opener Joe Weatherley and Brad Taylor, who have just returned from England’s Under-19 tour to Australia.

Also named are Devizes-raised Tom Alsop and Wiltshire prospect Jake Goodwin.

Hampshire Academy: Gorvin, Weatherley, Duggan, Alsop, Goodwin, Taylor, Organ, McCoy, Evans, Murray, Barber.

South Wilts: Morton, Abel, Riddle, Terry (or Cranch), Hayward, Hibberd, Duffield, Franklin, Foley, Pain, Warner.

THE conveyor belt of talent which has served South Wilts so well for two decades or more shows no sign of drying up.

Already this season two teenagers earmarked for places in the club's Southern Electric Premier League, Division 3 side have scored centuries.

William Wade, certain to open the innings each week, got the first - and now 14-year old Miles Kantolinna is celebrating a three-figure milestone.

Kantolinna made a maiden 104 in the handsome 97-run win over Corsham 2nd XI, sharing a 128-run third-wicket partnership with Rob Pitman (57) as South Wilts posted 220-6.

Another teenager, Chris Wheeler took 3-43 as Corsham were dismissed for 123.

South Wilts II begin their SPL3 campaign against Basingstoke & North Hants II at Bemerton on Saturday, 1pm.