All change at Diss CC

IT was all change in the captaincy at the Diss Cricket Club annual general meeting in the pavilion recently.

David Tooke, who did a wonderful job in his three year reign as skipper, is standing down but will still be very much involved in all aspects of running the club.

Tooke led from the front winning promotion to the Premier League in his second season and consolidating the club in sixth place last season, in most cases against clubs with professional overseas players and in some cases former Test players.

No one who ever saw it will forget his magnificent unbeaten century which was instrumental in a superb victory over Vauxhall Mallards.

Elected in his place is youthful veteran Simon Cooper. Twenty-year-old Simon is a keen student of the game and is an old head on young shoulders.

A fine all-rounder he has represented Norfolk at all stages of youth cricket from under 13 to under 19 in his 11 years with the club. He is head coach at the cricket club having qualified for his level one and two coaching badges and is currently on a course for his level three badge.

Cooper will have the experience of David Tooke to call on and is sure to do a fine job in his new role.

Second team skipper is Tim Courridge in place of the unavailable Shaun Merrick. Tim another who will lead from the front had an excellent season with the bat averaging 63.7 runs with a century and three fifties in eight innings.

Last year's secretary Bob Sparrow has left the district and old hand Godfrey Batley takes over. Godfrey brings a wealth of experience to the role having been involved with Diss cricket for many years as well as holding a senior post in Norfolk cricket.

This all adds up to an exciting phase in the development of the club when the season starts on April 18.