Tom Morton has been handed the responsibility of leading South Wilts to a hat-trick of ECB Southern Electric Premier League cricket titles.

The 28-year-old opening batsman and wicketkeeper takes over the captaincy reins this summer from James Hayward, who has stepped down after six years at the helm.

Morton has been Hayward’s vice-captain for the past two seasons when South Wilts have won the Premier Division championship.

“It was a natural progression really. I’ve skippered South Wilts in cup matches for the past two seasons and it’s an appointment I’m comfortable with,” he said.

“It’s an opportunity I have been expecting and am looking forward to.

“James (Hayward) has done a fantastic job and I was happy for him to continue.”

Having won the title for the past two seasons, South Wilts will start the 2014 campaign – they entertain Ventnor at Bemerton on May 3 – as red-hot favourites and Morton knows it will be tough.

“The challenge will be there for us to meet it head-on,” he said.

“With any title winners there is a degree of expectancy and pressure to back this up the following season. Sides always want to knock the top spot team off their perch, this was certainly the case last season.”

Havant are the only club to have previously won three straight titles – they lifted the Premier crown between 2007 and 2009 – and Morton knows rival clubs are busy recruiting players.

“It’s four months before the new season begins, so plenty of time for sides to develop and recruit new players.

“It would be premature to make any predictions at this stage. I regularly hear of other clubs introducing new initiates to improve.

“South Wilts also need to maintain a proactive approach in order to place ourselves in a strong position come the start of the season.”

Morton, whose pre-season fitness and training sessions have been a catalyst to the Salisbury club’s recent successes, doesn’t plan any dramatic changes at Wilton Road.

“Nothing too drastic; however, I don’t believe in the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” philosophy .

“We have achieved our aims in the past two seasons, we now need to reassess these and set new ones.

“Providing the team is still looking to improve and develop we should continue to be successful. I probably have a different style of captaincy but the ethics and winning mentality will remain the same.”

Morton doesn’t expect too many changes to last season’s title winning side, but in addition to hoping for another run-laden summer from Hayward, is looking forward to seeing 18-year old Jack Mynott develop as a top order batsman.

“Jack is a very promising young cricketer and being available all season will be a real boost to what’s an already strong batting line up.

“Jack is wintering in Melbourne, so should come back fit and in good nick.”

Mynott, alongside the rest of the South Wilts side, will get their first taste of competitive action in late April with an away tie against Warminster in the ECB National Club Championship.

“They knocked us out this past season, so that’s a game we need to take a lot more seriously,” Morton said.

“We had a terrific run in the national in 2012 and need to get something similar going again.

“It creates a lot of interest and brings money into a recreational club.”