BASHLEY have brought in top-order batsman Callum Maher ahead of their visit to Burridge in the Southern Premier League.

Maher has impressed in Bashley’s second string and replaces Nick Baker for the trip to Hampshire.

Captain Richard Morris revealed Maher had earned his opportunity in the first team and opened the door for an extended run in the side, should he impress.

Morris told the Daily Echo: “Callum has played quite a lot of first team cricket over the years sporadically, but he’s been getting runs in the second team and deserves his chance.

"Players need an opportunity to play a run of games and he seemed a good choice for Saturday.”

The New Forest outfit have won both of their league games so far this season, placing them third in the Premier Division behind Havant and South Wilts.

Burridge were promoted to the top flight after pipping Sarisbury Athletic for the Division One title last term and Morris insisted his team were wary of the significant threat the hosts pose.

He said: “It’s a trip we don’t know much about because I don’t think any of us have ever played there.

“But they seem a strong outfit. They won a very strong Division One last year and I see they are off the back of a good win against Alton last week, so we need to play well.”

This week, top flight games make the switch from the 50-over format to time games, beginning at the earlier time of 11.30pm.

Five weekends of 50-over fixtures were scheduled for the start of the season, but wet weather meant most teams have only managed two games each.

Bashley: Morris, Neal, Porter, Thurgood, Maher, Friedman, Ridley, Morgan, Thomson, Nash, R Grierson.

Elsewhere in the division, Lymington are unchanged for their away clash with St Cross Symondians.

Bullish captain Simon Beetham said: “One loss last week isn’t the end of the world and we are confident of victory.”

Lymington: Hand, Mortimer, C Grierson, Scott, Cowley, Rogers, Metcalfe, Beetham, Ellis, Layman, Freeman