Copleston under pressure for his place

We have been drawn away against Old Roffensians, the old boys of King¹s Rochester in Kent, on 1st June in our re-entry into the Cricket World Trophy, a competition we left in 1994.

We are an unknown quantity in this tournament, but organiser, Michael Blumberg, held nothing back when discussing the excitement of our decision to enter. "You are the Brewers Cup holders, and I've heard you won it at a canter. I would be a brave man if I said you weren't up there with the favorites for this years Cricket World Trophy."

Eds Copleston said "We'll be taking the Brewers Cup on our campaign with us. The prospect of playing Old Georgians in the quarter-finals if we get past the Old Roffensians is tantalising. As newcomers its all an unknown quantity to us and there will be some strong sides."

Looking ahead to the coming season, Copleston admitted that he was quietly confident. "I won't turn round and say- we've done it. The Brewers Cup has come home. Last year was an amazing year all round. However following that up with another good run in the Brewers would be magnificent. "Our first round tie will be very tough cricket against a pedigree side who have a history in the Brewer's Cup []. The CWT simply doubles the excitement and if I had to be drawn on my dream for the season ahead it would have to be the double. But that's a long way away."

When questioned as to whether the entering in the CWT was simply a way of getting Rick Johnson in the side Copleston laughed. "I understand the press have to run that kind of thought through their mind, but that's just out the question - I've always picked my tournament sides on nothing except merit and form."

An OC insider revealed that after a dismal tour of Australia the pressure is on Copleston to score runs to retain his place in the side. "He can't dwell on past glories," the insider said. "He struggled last season with the bat and was dire Down Under. There are other players putting him under pressure and he needs runs, and runs against decent sides. He's our version of Graeme Hick. He'll score plenty against weak opposition, but when the going gets tough it's a different story."

If Eds were to lose his place then Henry Watkinson or Abeed Janmohamed would be favourites to take over the captaincy.