Following a season of upheaval last year that ended in relegation after an exodus of players, Craig Steven-Jennings is taking the reins of the third team and aiming to set new foundations and bring back winning ways.

Craig has been a popular and successful captain of the 4s for several seasons and is relishing the new challenge and the prospect of helping young players transition through the teams.

He said: "We've decided to restructure the bottom two teams this year, last year we all pitched in to muddle our way through the season but the 3s really struggled in Division 4B after being promoted the previous season, it was a level too high for a team that was no longer solid.

"This year we're going to be in Division 7 East and we're going into a rebuilding phase. I've spoken to a lot of players about the season ahead and we've got a good bunch of players who are all keen to play, we just have to work out where they all fit in best.

"I'll be working closely with 4s captain Lalith to put together a 3rd and 4th team each week, we'll try to do what's best for the club, the teams and the players themselves. We want to create a better pathway for young players through the 4th team, into the 3rd team then on to the 2nd team. We'll be taking it seriously in the 3s and we want to make it a smoother introduction for young players to step up.

"The challenge we're going to have is the step between the 3s and the 2s in Division 2A is very significant and bigger than we'd hope for, but we're going to see if we can field a really strong team in the 3s next year, come in the top two or three and get promoted and then keep going to make it a better spread between the divisions the club's teams are in.
"But for the meantime we need to rebuild the 3s this year, get the team consolidated and get winning again, because people love winning and they keep coming back if we're winning. We're going to give it a good go."

Dropping down into Division 7 also gives the 3s a chance to play in a shorter format of the game that fits in better with the demands of family and working life for the players.
Craig said: "It's a 1pm start and 40 overs so it's easier for the senior players as quite a lot of them are dads whose kids play morning sport and it's also more appealing for the youngsters as 50 overs for a 15-year-old lad who is looking to progress in senior cricket is a long day.

"We've probably got 35 players across the 3s and 4s who are keen to play this season, and we're all pretty excited about it really."

Plans are also afoot to upgrade the bottom pitches and pavilion and Craig added: "The key thing is that the club is taking 3s and 4s cricket very seriously and investing in the facilities."