MARTYN Richards will miss Dorchester’s opening two fixtures of the Dorset Premier League campaign.

The skipper is still nursing a knee ligament injury and will therefore sit out tomorrow’s visit of Broadstone (1.30pm) and next week’s trip to Blandford.

Opening batsman Pete Moxom is also unavailable tomorrow as the county town side hand debuts to three new faces.

Richards said: “I sprained my medial ligament over the winter and it’s not quite ready.

“I considered strapping it up but really it needs another couple of weeks’ rest so unfortunately I will have to miss the first two games, which is disappointing but ultimately the right thing to do.

“And with Pete unavailable due to work, there are a couple of opportunities for other players.

“We are though grateful that Rob Waite will be available for the first three games of the season at least.

“He will open the batting with James Lewis, who has moved to the area from London.

“James was playing in the Hertfordshire league and will no doubt be a real asset with both bat and ball.

“Sam Goodhew, a middle-order batsman and off-spinner, will also make his debut.

“He is a player we have known about for a long time so we are delighted he has decided to join the club.

“Our third debutant is our player-coach Sean Fitzgerald. He is very experienced and still as good as anyone behind the stumps.

“Overall we feel we have a good blend of youth and experience for the first game.”

The first hurdle to overcome will surely be the less than favourable weather forecast.

Dorchester’s captain added: “We have to be honest and say there is high likelihood that the game won’t take place.

“There is more rain forecast so if I was a betting man I would bet against it going ahead, but you never know with our weather.

“It’s something we can’t control though, so we will just prepare as normal and hope that we get out there this weekend.”

On the topic of tomorrow’s visitors to the Rec, Richards said: “We know we are coming up against a side with some very good youngsters, such as Matt Thomas who scored 175 against Blandford at the end of last season.

“For a teenager to get such a big score is really impressive.

“They also have some seasoned campaigners so it will be a big test.”

Dorchester: Belt, Dunham, Fitzgerald, Gerety, Goodhew, J Legg, I Legge, Lewis, Peake, Sibley, Waite.

* The seconds get their Division Two campaign underway with a local derby at Martinstown while the third team welcome Bradford Abbas to Charlton Down in Division Five North & West (both 2pm).