WITH the loss of several key players, Hook and Newnham Basics' new captain Keith Lovelock is under no illusion that his side will do well to better last season's fourth place finish in the Southern Premier division three.

Big-hitting South African Janusz Kaminski has moved to Camberley, skipper Glen Williams will miss the start of season as he is working in Amsterdam, while Lovelock's opening partner Steve Shaw has also left to play in Winchester.

On the plus side, in comes 18-year-old South African batsman Lloyd Moore.

He is a Western Province Academy player, whose top score during the winter was 85 for Cape Town in the Western Province 1A premier league.

Former Odiham batsman Dave Hamer will also add some depth to the batting and young bowler Ben Allnutt is set to get his chance with the ball.

Tomorrow Hook open their campaign with a home game against last season's fifth-placed team Purbrook.

Captain Lovelock will once again look to be among the runs and carry on from last season when he was the top scorer in the division.

He said: "This is a transition year for us but, as ever, we will be looking to finish as high in the table as we can."

On the departure of Shaw, the skipper said: "It was a huge disappointment for me that Steve felt he had to move on. I don't think that is what club cricket is about."

With Hook looking to the future their young stars look set to be given a chance.

Lovelock added: "Andy Hobday is doing an excellent job with the colts teams and that can only be good for this club and its future."

The winter season ended well for Hook as they completed the double by winning the ACE Knock-out Cup to add to their league success at the Dummer Indoor Cricket Centre.

They beat a team called the Bowlers Arms, which was made up of Falkland players, in the knock-out final and pipped Shaun Udal's Chase Chargers for the league crown.