PREMIERS United have lost leading all-rounder Dean Mills back to Taree West, but have gained former player of the year Josh Hyde for the 2019/20 Mid North Coast Premier League cricket competition.
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Mills will captain Taree West this season after playing with United last summer. United captain Ricky Campbell expects Hyde to be available either just before or just after the Christmas break. Hyde was the leading player in the premier league in 2017/18 when his side, Macquarie Hotel, won the premiership. He dominated with the bat and ball.
However, he only made a couple of appearances last summer and Macquarie didn't nominate for the upcoming season, reducing the number of teams to eight. Hyde was linked to United in 2018/19, but failed to get a clearance.
Hyde plays with Port City in the Group Three Rugby League competition and will miss to start of the cricket season as he recovers from a couple of injuries sustained playing football.
"But we'll definitely have him every week after Christmas. A player of his quality will be a big plus for us,'' Campbell said.
Campbell said United will have a squad of 15 or 16 for the premier league. However, the club won't have a second grade and he admits this isn't ideal. United will now have the premier league and third grade sides.
"A few of the older blokes were going to step down to second grade, but that's not going to happen this season now,'' he said.
Veterans Josh Ferris, Murray McCartney and Danial Stone will be fronting again and Campbell said they'll be used on rotation. Campbell hopes he doesn't have to call on third graders too often.
"It's a big gap from third grade to the premier league,'' he reasoned.
RELATED: Hyde fails to get a clearance
Campbell said it shouldn't be too hard ensuring all the premier league players get a fair run.
"Most weeks we have players away or injured and some of the older blokes don't really care that much if they don't play every week,'' he said.
He predicts McCartney will have a big year with the ball.
"Muz was one of the best bowlers around here a few years ago. He'll be dropping down the batting this season to concentrate on his bowling.''
Wicket keeper/batsman Brock Hynes is a gain from Wingham and he'll fill the spot occupied by Ryan Yates. Yates is out for 2019/20 after badly injuring his knee playing rugby league for Gloucester.
Last season's top performers all-rounder Tom Burley and speedster Sam Whitbread will also be back.
