HORSPATH have added an extra international element to their first-team squad by recruiting Jersey duo Elliot Miles and Will Robertson. The Oxford Brookes University students - both members of the Oxford MCCU squad - are looking forward to testing themselves in the Home Counties Premier League this summer. Elliot, 20, is a left-arm spinner and right-handed batsman, while Will, 19, is a right-arm seamer and bats left-handed. The Channel Islanders play for St Ouen Springfield - just one of four clubs in Jersey - and have joined after Elliot impressed Horspath all-rounder Tom Cosford while they were playing for Free Foresters last summer. In a two-innings match, he took 8-15 against Buckinghamshire Academy at High Wycombe in a game the hosts eventually won by 244 runs. Elliot, who also played a handful of games for Abingdon Vale 2nd last season, said: "I have watched a few highlights of the Horspath games on the YouTube channel. It looks a good standard, and I'm looking forward to challenging myself." Will grew up in Perth, Australia, and played for the junior teams at Claremont-Nedlands in Swanbourne and has also had a season of B Grade cricket for University CC in the WACA competition. He added: "I was pleased to hear how Horspath stayed up because I want to play the highest level locally." Horspath skipper Will Eason said: "I'm delighted to to have Elliot and Will at the club. With them both being involved within the Oxford University squad, we know we are gaining two quality cricketers to the club. "Tom Cosford had mentioned Elliot regularly last season regarding his performances for the Free Foresters, so it's great to get a player in who we know his ability and with Will he came highly recommended from Graham Charlesworth, the University coach. They will add great competition to the squad and I am sure they will enjoy their time with us." But before the league season gets under way Elliot and Will have two big targets elsewhere. The pair will be hoping to make their first-class debuts with Oxford MCCU, and are also aiming to be selected by Jersey for the ICC World Cricket League Division 4 in Malaysia from April 28 to May 5. Elliot has represented the Channel Island at the last two tournaments, taking seven wickets in South Africa as Jersey were promoted as Division 5 champions in September, while Will is hoping to be called up for the first time. Having been involved in the Oxford MCCU development side for the last two years, Elliot, who is in the last year of a sports exercise and science degree, is in the main squad this time. "This winter I have been hoping to get myself in the side," he said. "But the games start in late March when the wickets are quite green, so maybe they will only play one spinner, but we will see when the time comes." And Will, in his first year of the same course as his colleague, added: "To make my first-class debut would be awesome." Then they will be hoping to line up for Jersey in Kuala Lumpur where the opponents will be Uganda, Denmark, Bermuda, Vanuatu and the hosts. Elliot featured in all five games in Benoni last year, taking 2-28 in a 120-run win over Vanuatu in the final. He was also among the wickets in the earlier games, picking up 1-34 in the semi-final victory over Qatar after Jersey had topped their group with wins over Ghana (2-18), Germany (1-43) and Vanuatu (1-33). Elliot's best figures for Jersey, though, had come a year earlier with 3-45 in a 42-run win against Italy in Los Angeles on his only appearance as the Channel Island were relegated from Division 4. Reflecting on bouncing back at the first attempt last year, Elliot said: "That was a good experience. When we went to South Africa I played every game and it was nice to do well when we won." Elliot and Will helped Jersey win the 2014 ICC Europe Under 19 Championship Division 2 title in 2014, and the following year were in the hosts' side which finished third behind Scotland and Ireland in Division 1 - a qualifier for the 2016 World Cup. Elliot was the joint second leading wicket-taker with 13 victims, including 6-42 in a 47-run defeat by Scotland, while Will picked up 3-32 in a three-wicket win against Netherlands. Having represented the senior side against Kent 2nd and Cornwall, Will's also hoping to make the trip to Malaysia. "I've got my fingers crossed," he said. "There was a tournament last year, which I was really close to making, but now I've got into the MCCU squad, which has helped as well." After moving to Jersey - where his mother, Sally, is originally from - four years ago, Will returned to Perth in 2016 after leaving school and played a season for University CC. "It was such a good standard of cricket," he said. "It was the first time I have played the longer format of two-day cricket. "We finished sixth, which meant we got into the finals where we played a top side, who beat us. "Individually I got a four-wicket haul and my highest score was 40-odd. It wasn't a prolific season, but I got 20 wickets and 300 runs."
Posted by: Russ
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