Thorverton CC are excited to announce the signing of young top order batter, Mahir Choksi.

Mahir is a student at the University of Exeter who has previously played at Amersham CC in the Home Counties Premier Cricket League. The 20 year old is expected to make up part of the 1st XI squad and will be available for the first part of the season before returning home after his studies. Mahir’s cricketing highlights include scoring 90 for Amersham 1st XI in 2022 and a couple of half centuries last summer. Mahir also has experience wicket keeping so will provide useful back up with the gloves where required.

Thors have had a busy winter, already announcing 3 new signings; Shane Yelverton, Freddie Fenner & Awrangzeb Khogiani prior to Christmas. In addition, we can also now announce the signings of a further trio of players from Exwick CC. Rudi Ellis and Dan Pooley impressed with bat and ball at indoor net sessions over Christmas and are expected to add great depth to the squads. Rudi and Dan will be joined by Shakib Rahmani who comes with a reputation as an exciting bowler, taking two 4 wicket hauls for Exwick last term.

1st XI captain Jake Choules commented:
“With the availability struggles last season, it has been important to add depth and competition for places to all 3 squads. I have been impressed with the quality of the new signings so far and fully expect the 2nd XI to be challenging for promotion straight back to the D Division.”

“In terms of the 1s, we have been looking for a top order bat as well as some cover for the start of the season when a number of our players have school and uni cricket. Mahir seems to kill 2 birds with 1 stone so I am excited to see what he can do in pre season.”

Thorverton Cricket Club were deeply saddened to learn that our former member and friend Simon Gray has passed away.

Simon, his brother Adrian and nephew Paddy, were products of our junior section that went on to play in the senior teams. Simon’s father Mike was our first honorary Life Member.

Dedicated to cricket and country ways, Simon was a driving force at Broadclyst CC while always remaining a good friend of Thorverton CC. Always a welcome guest at Thorverton, Simon continued to support the club in many ways and he will be missed.

Our thoughts are with the Gray family and our friends at Broadclyst CC at this sad time.

We have been drawn away at Kilmington in the first round of the Devon T20. The date is TBC but first round ties must be played before 8th June.

Jake Choules’s side will be wanting to win in Devon’s premier T20 cup for the first time, after exiting at the hands of Bovey Tracey, Plympton and Exmouth in the three years since being eligible to play in the competition following promotion to the A Division.

Jake Choules continues his recruitment drive for 2025 and has confirmed the signing of all-rounder Freddie Fenner from D Division East side Whimple. Fenner has scored 353 runs and taken 51 wickets for Whimple’s 1st XI since making his debut in 2021. He also struck a maiden ton against Broadclyst this season against a bowling attack including George & Andy Daldorph.

Get to know Freddie:-

Highest score? –

100 not out

Best figures?

3-8

Best cricketing moment?

Probably scoring my first ton

Worst cricketing moment?

After doing one on one training all winter, I still managed to get a golden duck first game of the season

Favourite Cricket Tea Item?

Either coronation chicken sandwich or jam and cream scones

Favourite Song?

Play That Funky Music by Wild Cherry

Favourite Film?

High School Musical 3 or Tangled

Cricketing Idol?

Kevin Pietersen

Most used emoji on your phone?

🤯

Other teams played for?

Whimple.

What attracted you to Thorverton?

I was looking to move clubs and the opportunity arose so I took it.

What are you looking forward to most about your time at the club?

Training with better players and progressing my ability as a player

Skipper Jake Choules:- “Really pleased to have signed Freddie who comes highly recommended from some of the guys that have played against him. Freddie is an exciting young all rounder that I will hope will challenge some of us senior players for spots in the 1st XI”

We are delighted to announce that South African all-rounder Shane Yelverton has signed as our overseas player for 2025.

Shane who hails from Durban is a familiar face in Thorverton as he was the club’s overseas player in 2019 and also appeared for the club’s 2nd XI in both 2023 and 2024.

In his one full season with the club, Shane scored 353 B Division runs at an average of 25 and took 32 wickets at an average of just 13.

Shane returned as a guest for the 2nd XI on ten occasions over the last two seasons (DCL regulations mean only one overseas player can feature in the 1st XI), scoring 406 runs at an average of 58 & picking up 14 wickets at an average of 20.

Shane will be kindly accommodated by Becky Rice for the first half of his stay; thank you Becky. If you would be able to offer Shane accommodation for July & August, please get in touch with us.

Get to know Shane (if you don’t already)

Highest Score?
85* – the elusive ton has yet to come but what better time than ever on my return!

Best Figures?
7/19

Best Cricketing Moment?
The game I played (for my club in Sussex) where I took 7/19. Chased down the target and was 73* at the end too. That game secured a Hampshire trial for me so it was a great day.

Worst Cricketing Moment?
Stinging nettles on the boundary. Those who know, know.

Favourite Cricket Tea Item?
Mini sausage rolls & any sweet treat!

Favourite Song?
Currently: Longshot – Catfish and the Bottlemen

Favourite Film?
Hacksaw Ridge & Holes

Cricketing Idol?
Shaun Pollock & Herschelle Gibbs

Most used emoji on your phone?
👀 & 😂

Other teams played for?
Berea Rovers CC (South Africa)
Lindfield CC (Sussex)

What attracted you back to Thorverton?
The club is such an amazing place to be and be apart of. I’ve had the privilege of coming back a few times now over the past couple summers and I’ll always find my way back to visit or play! Everyone at the club are legends, the ground is phenomenal and I’m already excited for the home games during the season.

What are you looking forward to most about your stay at the club?
Playing at Station Ground again, what a place.

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Captain Jake Choules said “Absolutely delighted that Shane has re-signed as our overseas player for 2025. I’m sure he will be a popular choice as he knows the club well and will be fully committed during the season. With the signing of Shane and Awrangzeb, who signed a few weeks ago, we have added 2 quality all rounders before Christmas and I am hopeful of a couple more incomings in the new year”

Last night’s AGM went smoothly with the following officers elected for 2025:-

President – Charlie Andrews

Chair – Charles Kislingbury

Chief Executive Officer – James May

Vice-Chair – Jack Stirling

Secretary – Andy Pitt

Treasurer – James Meredith

Fixture Secretary – Andy Pitt

1st XI Captain – Jake Choules

2nd XI Captain – Ben Coe

3rd XI Captain – James Meredith

Women & Girls Coordinator – Keeley Wells

Club Development Officer – Alex Jopling

Membership Secretary – Jack Stirling

Safeguarding Officer – James May

Hon Auditors – Brays Accountants

If you wish to help in any area of the club, this can be done without sitting on the committee. Please get in touch if you are able to offer any help.

Everyone at Thorverton Cricket Club is delighted to hear of the news that Erin Vukusic has signed a two-year contract with the newly-professional Somerset Women who were awarded Tier 1 status as part of the ECB reshuffle of women’s cricket. Somerset’s women’s team have essentially replaced Western Storm, where Erin has been an academy player for the past two seasons.

To date, since making her debut for our 2nd XI aged just 14, becoming one of the first three female cricketers to play in our second XI alongside Imogen Daldorph and Eliza Heard, Erin has featured in 28 2nd XI games, taking 33 wickets at an average of 25. Managing her workload in 2024 across her commitments to Western Storm’s Academy, Devon Women’s & Exeter Women’s meant Erin featured less for TCC in 2024 as she strove towards going pro and she was sorely missed as the 2s were relegated.

An international debut for Croatia was also a highlight in November 2023. In 4 WT20Is Erin is averaging a staggering 98.5 with the bat and 16.5 with the ball.

Erin is currently in Australia playing for Perth Cricket Club over the winter.

Speaking following the announcement, Erin said:-

“It’s a really exciting opportunity, and one I am really looking forward to.

Being a professional cricketer is what I’ve always wanted to do. The game has come a long way in the last few years and it’s great to see that girls are now getting the opportunity to achieve their dreams.

I can’t wait to start this journey and hopefully I can become a player that people are excited about watching.”

Erin’s rise will remind more senior members of Giles White, the last ex-Thorvertonian who went pro at Somerset and then enjoyed an 8 year first class career at Hampshire.

Everyone at Thorverton Cricket Club is delighted, but not unsurprised by the news and we all wish Erin the very best of luck with her professional career, which so many of us will be watching closely. As our women’s and girls section of the club grows and the astronomical rise of women’s cricket in the last decade, we know Erin will always be a fantastic model for young players at the club and beyond.

Congratulations Erin!

The season was nicely rounded off with our end of season dinner on Saturday at Thorverton Memorial Hall. Around 60 members from all areas of the club were in attendance.

Awards winners

Thanks to all those who helped organise the evening and those who to set & tidy up, to Dan’s American Kitchen for the food, all the bar staff at the Memorial Hall for an enjoyable evening.

1st XI skipper Jake Choules hasn’t hung around in his off-season recruitment & has today confirmed the signing of exciting all-arounder Awrangzeb Khogiani from Exwick.

Awrang has already played 4 matches for Thorverton in 2024, impressing with both bat and ball. His seam bowling picked up 4-31 in an impressive win over a strong Premier Division Sandford side in a T20 friendly.

Khogiani made his Exwick debut in 2023 and in his 22 Devon League fixtures so far has picked up 45 wickets at an average of just 12 & scored 372 runs at 21.88. Two fifers and a 78 are his most impressive returns so far.

Skipper Jake Choules:-

“Really pleased to have signed Awrang who will be a great addition to the squad. His stats are really impressive and it’s not surprising that he wants to test himself at a higher level and that there was interest from other clubs. He really impressed with his attitude, bowling and big hitting in the t20s he played for us in the summer so looking forward to seeing what he can do in the league.”

Below are the player stats for the 1st, 2nd & 3rd XIs in DCL matches for 2024.

1st XI

Batting (min 200 runs)

Brendan Coetzee – 395 runs @ 23.24. 2 x 50. HS 53

George Daldorph – 386 runs @ 32.17. 2 x 50. HS 70

Andy Pitt – 351 runs @ 21.94. 1 x 100. HS 122

Harry Choules – 286 runs @ 20.43. 2 x 50. HS 85

Dan Robbins – 243 runs @ 22.09. 1 x 100. HS 108

Bowling (min 10 wickets)

Ben Slaviero – 36 wkts @ 15.28. 1 x 5fa. BB 5-15

Dan Robbins – 17 wkts @ 21.53. BB 4-28

Alex Jopling – 15 wkts @ 21.93. BB 3-2

Jake Choules – 15 wkts @ 28.53. 1 x 5fa. BB 5-29

Andy Pitt – 12 wkts @ 29.92. BB 2-12

Fielding (min 5 dismissals)

Harry Choules – 20 victims (19 catches, 1 stumping)

George Daldorph – 8 victims (7 catches, 1 run out)

Ben Slaviero – 5 catches

Dan Robbins – 5 catches

2nd XI

Batting (min 175 runs)

Andy Daldorph – 456 runs @ 28.5. 2 x 50. HS 98

Dave Baldock – 329 runs @ 41.13. 1 x 100, 1 x 50. HS 115*

Paul Stirling – 312 runs @ 22.29. 2 x 50. HS 88

Shane Yelverton – 186 runs @ 46.5. 2 x 50. HS 85*

Jonny Baker – 178 runs @ 59.33. 1 x 50. HS 52

Bowling (min 8 wkts)

Jacob Broom – 11 wkts @ 20.64. BB 3-31

Shane Yelverton – 10 wkts @ 18.4. BB 4-9

Jonny Baker – 9 wkts @ 34. BB 2-24

Jack Stirling – 8 wkts @ 32.5. BB 3-15

Imogen Daldorph – 8 wkts @ 37.63. BB 2-19

Fielding (min 5 dismissals)

Paul Stirling – 11 dismissals (9 catches, 2 stumpings)

Dave Baldock – 5 dismissals (4 catches, 1 run out)

Jacob Broom – 5 catches

3rd XI

Batting (min 80 runs)

James Meredith – 135 runs @ 16.88. 1 x 50. HS 65*

Joseph Matthews – 122 runs @ 24.4. HS 31

Isaac May – 91 runs @ 22.75. HS 38

Rob Money – 89 runs @ 14.83. HS 14.83. HS 39

Nick Taverner – 82 runs @ 27.33. HS 78

Bowling (min 4 wkts)

Aidan Lea – 11 wkts @ 17.45. BB 4-20

Chris Winzer – 7 wkts @ 16.43. BB 4-25

Joe Milford – 5 wkts @ 33.6. BB 1-8

Flinn Brazier – 4 wkts @ 26. BB 2-19

Nathan Buckeridge – 4 wkts @ 50.25. BB 1-11

Fielding (min 4 dismissals)

Andrew Smerdon – 4 catches