James Hibberd has quit Totton & Eling to join ECB Southern Electric Premier Cricket League rivals South Wilts in a player/coach capacity.
The 26-year old all-rounder, left, who plays Minor Counties Championship cricket for Wiltshire, won league championship medals with Totton in 2005 and 2006.
Last September he played a significant role in the club's Sky Sports-screened North Gear national T20 triumph at Canterbury and hit an amazing 157 off 48 balls, including 14 sixes, in one of the preliminary round ties against Weston-Super-Mare.
He scored almost 2,500 runs and captured 169 wickets for in Premier League cricket for Totton & Eling.
Hibberd explained that the key reason for his decision to move to South Wilts was to enhance his reputation as a cricket coach.
"I'm on the brink of becoming a qualified Level 3 coach and initially asked Totton & Eling about fulfilling that sort of role at Southern Gardens.
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"But there are quite a few ex-pros at Totton and they didn't seem that keen to have someone in that type of role.
"I enjoyed every moment of my cricket at Southern Gardens, but my career needs to progress," he said.
Richard Dibden, succeeds David Banks as Totton & Eling skipper this summer, explained that "using Hibberd in a player/coach capacity, was felt neither a requirement nor a financial priority at Southern Gardens.
"We're naturally sorry to see him go to South Wilts and wish him all the best in this new stage of his career."
James Hayward, the new South Wilts captain, believes the addition of the former Calmore Sports and Totton & Eling all-rounder to their squad will prove the missing link for the Bemerton side, which under-achieved badly last season.
"James is without doubt one of the best all-rounders in the Premier League and will be a good mentor for the talented youngsters involved here," he said.
Hibberd, who in 2006 became the first Wiltshire player to be awarded the prestigious Frank Edwards Trophy for the leading bowling average in the Minor Counties Championship, said: "I am looking forward to working closely with James Hayward and the South Wilts development team to push the club forwards."
Totton & Eling, meanwhile, are believed to be lining up two new players in their bid to regain the Premier League championship they surrendered to Havant last season.
Posted by: dave patel, hedge end on 8:26am Fri 28 Mar 08
seems a good player (fast bowler) when i played against clamore - but will not have good players around him. Would be interested to see how many run/wickets he takes this year?? im guessing a lot less - likes his food too
seems a good player (fast bowler) when i played against clamore - but will not have good players around him. Would be interested to see how many run/wickets he takes this year?? im guessing a lot less - likes his food too
Posted by: Les 'Snooker' Higgins, West End on 1:55pm Fri 28 Mar 08
Having good players around him helped but South Wilts have a couple of Big Gun Wiltshire players so he should be for 500 runs and 30 wickets. It doesn't shock me though, he is a money grabber!
Having good players around him helped but South Wilts have a couple of Big Gun Wiltshire players so he should be for 500 runs and 30 wickets. It doesn't shock me though, he is a money grabber!
Posted by: Rat Mole, Romsey on 1:19pm Thu 3 Apr 08
He'll flop. Spends too much time in Naz's curry house in Romsey and the kebab shop smashing in the food. The whole move is money orientated, tighter than a camel's bum in a sand storm!
He'll flop. Spends too much time in Naz's curry house in Romsey and the kebab shop smashing in the food. The whole move is money orientated, tighter than a camel's bum in a sand storm!
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