Back problem Wheeler goes for New Milton run-out

Promising Hampshire YC's all-rounder David Wheeler is set to play his first Southern Electric Premier League match of the season tomorrow (SAT) - barely a week after having been diagnosed with a stress fracture of the spine.

But instead of playing for the Hampshire Academy, whom he helped win the Premier 2 championship last summer, Wheeler is planning a "gentle run out" for New Milton against Hungerford at Fernhill, 1pm.

Wheeler, 18, played all his junior cricket for New Milton before joining the Academy and has been given the nod by Hampshire Second XI coach Tony Middleton to return to his roots tomorrow.

"David is terribly frustrated and desperate to get a bit of cricket in before he undergoes surgery to cure his back problem," said his father Cliff.

"He hopes it will be a quiet run out with his old New Milton chums, in which he can do a bit of batting and fielding without over-extending himself."

That's unlikely to prevent the big hitting Wheeler from changing his natural game.

He scored almost 600 runs for New Milton in 2001 and nearly 400 in the Academy's Division 2 title success last summer.

Paultons expect to build on their opening day success against Hook & Newnham Basics with a win over Hambledon, while strongly fancied Trojans are boosted by the return of Jamie Donaldson, Nigel le Bas and Chris Mitchell at Waterlooville.

Title favourites Winchester KS face a difficult test against Ventnor at Steephill.