Harris ready for the next challenge at Tew

Harris will lead his young side out for their first taste of division one cricket in Saturday’s opener at Henley, the 2013 and 2014 champions.

Harris said: “I never imagined that we would be in the top division of the Home Counties Premier Cricket League by now. Our aim when we came up from the Cherwell League was just to hold our own and stay in it, I never thought we would be promoted in our third year.

“We’ve exceeded our own expectations, and probably those of some others in the county, so we’re obviously doing something right.

“We’ve stayed together as a group right through from the Cherwell League and it’s been one of the most important parts of our success. We’ve backed each other and grown as a team together.”

Last season’s division two champions could not have had a much more difficult start than a visit to Henley and Harris knows how important it is to get early points on the board.

He said: “Staying in the division is the aim, simple as that. You see a lot of teams who go up and come straight back down.

“It’s important to get off to a good start, the first five games will be very important and we need to be winning three of those. We don’t want to be at the bottom of the table and wondering where our next win may come from.”

Australian top order batsman Dain Moreton, from Perth, will be Tew’s overseas player this year while bowler Henry Woodward has returned to the club from Dinton and county youth captain Tom Price has joined from Abingdon Vale.

Harris added: “We’ve got good depth and ability in the squad, that showed last year when we had players unavailable. Others came in and produced good displays and we’ve added a couple of players.

“I’ve got another year’s experience under my belt and I’m looking forward to the challenge.”