Town derby opens cricket league season

The Bexhill Observer-sponsored match gets underway at The Polegrove at 1.15pm.

The hosts have strengthened their squad after a poor campaign last year that saw them finish second from bottom, whereas Sidley have made just one change from the team that only missed out on promotion on the final day of the season.

Australian all-rounder Sam Roberts is the new Bexhill skipper with Martin Barry and Martin Menzes joining East Sussex champions Crowhurst Park.

Bexhill's director of cricket Jeff Chinn said: "After our performance against Hastings Priory I would hope for a victory against Sidley. Last season was the first time since I first came here in 1974 that they beat us."

Intikhab Alam jnr is the only player missing from the Sidley scorecard. The overseas player has been replaced by 20-year-old Australian Daniel Reid, an all-rounder who took 30 wickets and averaged 30 runs in the Perth A Grade league last season.

Skipper Peter King said: "After finishing third last season we'd like to aim for a similar position. If we play positively we'll get some good results.

"We beat Bexhill last year and we'd like to think we can go there and do well but we know they've got a stronger squad."