BANBURY captain Lloyd Sabin is calling for realism this season after a turnover in players during the winter months.

The north Oxfordshire outfit have challenged for the Division 1 title in the Home Counties Premier League for the last couple of years.

But Banbury enter this campaign with a youthful side and a different target.

Former captain Luke Ryan, Hugo Darby, Karl Penhale and Tom Bradbeer have all moved on.

Sabin, who is only 22 himself, believes this year will be full of learning curves for his young side, starting on Saturday against Tring Park.

He said: “I think we’re going to be a bit of a rebuilding job this year.

“It is a fairly new and inexperienced side and hopefully, if we’re being realistic, we’ll finish in the top half.”

Sabin added: “Every single year our team gets younger and younger and that’s staying the same.

“Ability-wise, they’re good enough and it’s about them having the confidence to step up, play their own game and how we know they can.”

Young bowlers Jack Wilkins and Jamie Curtis have joined Banbury, while former Pakistan international seamer Aizaz Cheema replaces Australian Kurtis Patterson as the side’s overseas player.

Sabin added: “Fingers crossed, he (Cheema) will be here for the first game.

“I’m fairly happy with the standard he is at.”

PLAYERS IN

J Wilkins (Buckingham Tn), J Curtis (Cumnor), A Cheema (Quetta Gladiators).

PLAYERS OUT

L Ryan (Spencer), H Darby (both Spencer), K Patterson, K Penhale (Aston Rowant), T Bradbeer (Northampton Saints).