FORMER England Test batsman Aftab Habib has been appointed Sonning Cricket Club’s new player-coach.

He enjoyed an illustrious first-class career with Essex, Leicestershire and Middlesex between 1992 and 2006. He also played for Berkshire before coaching the Hong Kong national side.

Last season the 44-year-old was a player-coach with Eversley, while also being head coach to the Berkshire Women’s team.

Sonning are expecting the Reading-born Habib to bat high up the order in their first team, hoping he can help inspire them to gain promotion from Division 2b of the Thames Valley League.

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The Scours Lane-based club have kicked-off 2017 with a new seven-strong board of directors under the chairmanship of Martin Law.

Chris Gallimore continues as secretary, with Steve Stave treasurer, Dave Gwyneth general manager, Craig Pearson in charge of marketing, Simone Owen club manager and Delano Jones the social secretary with responsibility for fundraising.

“We are looking to our new board to continue the fantastic growth of the club,” said Law.

“The club has grown so much in my 24-year tenure, which has seen us grow from a field in the middle of Highmoor Cross to the current environment.

“This has always been with the ambition to become the No.1 grass roots development club in Berkshire.”

Law reveals the club boasts 224 players, from development through to Under 15s, along with first team and reserves.

Work is continuing to smarten up the Scours Lane ground – certainly no easy task – with the floodlights being a recent concern.

There must also be concerns over their form in the Hellenic League with only four teams below them in the table, but even that is an improvement on the placings in the league’s fair play standings.

Scours Lane tennants Woodley United don’t fare much better, but, of more importance, they lie third in Division One East with a chance of being promoted.