FORMER England batsman Aftab Habib will be in charge of coaching when Sonning CC start preparing for the new season with indoor nets at Blue Coat School commencing on Tuesday (6.30-7.45pm).

Habib, who played first-class cricket with Essex, Leicestershire and Middlesex, will take the lead coaching role, from the Under 7s up to the men’s teams.

Chairman Gary Phillips commented: “The aim of the club is to offer players the opportunity to work their way up from a young age right up to adult cricket with the possibility of taking their career to an even higher level of the game.

“For that to happen, they will need the right sort of coaching and now we have Aftab on board, we believe Sonning will be able to offer that.

“It is hoped his long-term appointment will see a further strengthening of the club into the 2020s.”

Reading-born Aftab said: “I am delighted to be joining an ambitious club and can’t wait to start the indoor net sessions.”

Runners-up in Division 3a last year, Sonning have been promoted to Division 2b of the Thames Valley League with their first fixture of the forthcoming season being against Burnham 2nd at Pound Lane on May 6.

  • KIDMORE End CC are calling for new players of any age or ability to join any one of their three senior Saturday league teams, Sunday friendly side, or colts teams for the 2017 season.

The Gallowstree Common club, which plays in the Morrant Thames Valley League and holds an ECB Clubmark, is hosting pre-season net sessions at Shiplake College on Wednesdays from 8.15pm to 9.30pm, until April 5, when the training sessions move outside.

Junior sessions are also being held at Shiplake College on Saturdays until April 1. U7s-U11s and the girls squad train from 4.15pm to 5.15pm and the U12s-U15s are from 5.25-6.45pm.

For more information, contact club captains James Frost (07971560981), Chris Pigden (07976292805) or Todd Butler (07891703581).

For further details on the colts, email nickholroyd@live.co.uk