After a difficult season in 2023 that was marred by injuries and unavailability a number of changes have been made to the First Team line up that will hopefully lead to a more relaxed summer for the Benwell Hill followers.
Wicketkeeper batsman Pete Halliday will again lead the side supported by a youthful Off Spinning Vice Captain in Max Williamson. The experience in the batting will be provided by Phillip Bell and the evergreen Adam Heather whilst the pace attack will once again be led by Callum Harding supported by Daniel Gardner.
The reconstruction of the team will see three former Benwell Hill Juniors back at Denton Bank in brothers Luke and Ben Mussett and Joe Anderson. All rounder Rory Hanley will also be available following a year spent abroad in South America.
Other graduates of the BHCC Junior Ranks in Hayden Mustard and William Archbold will look to build on their solid progress in 2023 and they will be supported by a number of other promising young players coming up on the rails. The Club sees producing as many players of our own as we can as the way to build the team in what is sure to be a highly competitive league.
To support this effort Indian First Class Cricketer Yash Kothari has been recruited as Overseas Coach/Match Professional. Yash is an opening batsman who also bowls slow left arm and whilst this is his first time in the UK he arrives with a strong reputation.
Yash arrives as a replacement for Kyle Coetzer who decided at the end of last season to leave the Club after seven years largely to pursue a Full Time Career in Professional Coaching. Kyle has been a marvellous player and influence at Benwell Hill and we wish him well.
Other players to leave the Club at the end of last season were Angus Guy and Luke Doneathy both of whom enjoyed some golden moments in the Hill colours. Again we wish them all the best in their cricketing careers.
To conclude, it will be a rather different Hill team that takes to the field in 2024 and it is sure to be a tough challenge. It will be interesting to see whether the format reduction to 45 overs per side makes any real difference but the one thing everyone will agree with is that some decent sunshine is a must to give the season some real momentum.
One final reflection from a now fully fledged Muppet is to wish for the Spirit of Cricket to prevail at all times.
Good luck to all teams in the NEPL.
Simon Lunn
BHCC Chairman
