Bashley's overseas star faces time on sidelines

Brad Thompson, Bashley-Rydal's experienced Western Australian all-rounder, is set for a spell on the sidelines after breaking a finger in last week's ECB Southern Electric Premier League defeat at Havant.

The 35-year old batsman-spin bowler injured the index finger on his right hand after stopping a fierce shot in the gully off skipper Matt King.

"It wasn't until after the game when he went to hospital for an X-ray that Brad knew his finger was broken," explained Bashley team-mate Neil Taylor.

"Fortunately, it's a clean break - but Brad's apparently been told he could be out for up to eight weeks.

"But these Aussies are strong characters and I'll be surprised if he's not back playing in a few weeks."

Thompson certainly misses tomorrow's Premier One showdown with Liphook & Ripsley, who are already propping up the table after suffering consecutive defeats by Portsmouth and Andover.

Dale Middleton replaces Thompson in an otherwise unchanged Bashley line-up. "It's important we get back to winning ways," Taylor says.

"We started well with a win over Calmore and then lost at Havant - a match in which we lost our way during a run chase.

"And we don't need any reminding that Liphook beat us at the BCG early last season," he added.

Defending champions Havant will be without skipper Paul Gover for the demanding visit to the Rose Bowl, where the Hampshire Academy will be back to full strength.

Gover, a Saints season ticket holder, is going to the cup final, while the Academy expect to bring back Iain Brunnschweiler and Charlie van der Gucht, who both missed last week's defeat at Calmore.

Gover's place is expected to be taken by Australian off-spinning all-rounder Matt Cox, who jetted in from South Melbourne on Thursday evening. He plays for the same VCA A-Grade club as Jimmy Seeary (South Wilts).

South Wilts captain Rob Wade has an injured shoulder and could sit out Calmore's visit to Lower Bemerton.

James Hibberd, who produced a fine all-round display to bowl over the Academy last weekend, will captain Calmore as five first team regulars are going to Cardiff.

BAT Sports, whose match against Portsmouth was washed out after such a promising start last week, face a tricky Sunday lunchtime clash against Andover at London Road.

"It's never an easy place to go," concedes BAT skipper Richard Dibden, who hopes to be back from Cardiff in time for the start.

"If Saints win, I could have a few problems - but so might a few others,"he conceded.

Both sides expect to be at full strength.

Matt Swarbrick returns from a two week vacation in Vietnam to captain Bournemouth in the potentially demanding match against Portsmouth at St Helen's, Southsea.

It's the first time this season Swarbrick has donned Bournemouth colours - and his first meeting with Western Australian batsman Adam Voges will be in the visitors dressing room before the match.

Frustrated by the weather, Bournemouth opened their account with a fine seven-wicket win at South Wilts, Voges marking his Premier debut with a half-century.

Portsmouth began the season with an easy win over Liphook & Ripsley, but were halted by the rain after just 11 overs of their visit to BAT last week.

Hampshire's Lawrie Prittipaul returns for Portsmouth, whose ranks include Bournemouth-based Matt Keech and Naqeeb Ali Mohammed.