CHAIRMAN Tim Oakley remains optimistic about Ombersley’s chances in 2018 despite a sluggish start.

The Old Main Road outfit sits ninth in the Birmingham & District Premier Cricket League having finished fourth last season on the back of a pair of sixth spots in 2015 and 2016.

A sign of promise came two weeks ago when serial title contenders and current leaders Shrewsbury were toppled on their own patch but it was only a second win in seven completed fixtures.

It leaves Ombersley perilously close to the bottom two in the early standings but Oakley has faith the team can overcome a collection of mitigating circumstances.

“The whole season got off to a bad start with abandoned matches due to rain on the back of practice also being disrupted by the weather. It had us on the back foot a bit, we got caught cold,” he said.

“Our overseas player Callum Ferguson got taken by Worcestershire which would be a big miss for any team. We only got a couple of games out of him and he has done well for the county.

“We had hoped to get him back after the One-Day Cup fixtures but a hamstring problem has prevented that.

“We also haven’t had our usual lads like Brett D’Oliveira and Ben Cox on a regular basis but these things go in cycles and it will pick up.

“Gareth Andrew is bowling really well, it is our batting unit that is a bit of an issue and Callum and Brett would make a big difference to that.

“Once we get everyone in and playing we will be fine and we are getting there with things like availability now. You have to get over all of these things.”

Ombersley hope to kickstart their campaign at home to Moseley tomorrow (noon) but Oakley warned it would be no walk in the park.

“They will be very competitive,” said Oakley.

“It is a mid-table clash as things stand and one we hope to win. I think we would expect to push up the table a bit, we have finished in the top six each year we have been in the Premier Division and that’s where we would like to be.

“Like everyone, we would like to win it but I don’t think that’s realistic. We have come a long way as a club, particularly on the back of a lot of teams in our division paying all their players.

“There are not many who don’t pay a lot of players. Us and Shrewsbury are probably the ones who pay the least so we have done pretty well.”

Jack Haynes, recently signed on professional terms at Worcestershire and called up for England under-19s, is set to return next weekend.