NEWLY-appointed skipper Simon Watkins says he is relishing the chance to plot Bournemouth’s defence of their Southern League crown.

Watkins has taken the reins on a permanent basis from Craig de Weymarn who stepped down last season following his appointment as a physiotherapist at Hampshire Cricket.

All-rounder Watkins, Southern League young cricketer of the year in 2009, will lead Bourne-mouth for the first time tomorrow when they face neighbours Bashley at Chapel Gate (1pm).

The 22-year-old, who is studying to become a quantity surveyor at Oxford Brookes University, missed Bournemouth’s curtain-raiser at Andover six days ago as he was on duty with Oxford UCCE.

However, despite his absence, Watkins’s able deputy James Park led from the front, his career-best 161 guiding Bourne-mouth to a tense two-wicket win.

Corfe Mullen-raised Watkins, who joined Bournemouth from Hampshire Academy, told the Daily Echo: “I have always been keen on captaining and have always liked to decide the tactics and what happens on the pitch. I have always wanted to be the one who makes the decisions.

“When Craig was captain, I would always go to him with ideas. I think a lot when I’m on the pitch and am not the type of player who drifts through games. I am always coming up with ideas to take wickets and save runs. I also feel I have got quite a laid-back approach.”

New-look Bournemouth have turned to youth after losing several key players from last season’s title-winning squad. And they have been further depleted by Scott Barlow’s decision to return to play his club cricket with Sidmouth in Devon.

Watkins added: “We have got a different squad so it is going to be a new challenge to get everybody to gel. We have spoken about the importance of players taking responsibility.

“My first decision was to make James Park my vice-captain and he did fantastically well and led by example against Andover. We want people to target being among the top run-scorers and wicket-takers.”

James and Nick Park are both unavailable for the limited overs contest against Bashley, while Tom Wainwright returns to don the wicket keeper’s gloves.

Bashley all-rounder Callum Maher, who missed their 63-run triumph over Hampshire Academy last week, replaces Neil Taylor.

Bournemouth: Watkins, Evans, House, S Ridley, Russell, Flux, Butler, Denham, Metcalfe, Wainwright, Allam.

Bashley: Neal, Sexton, Thurgood, Baker, Morris, Friedman, S Lilley, R Grierson, J Lilley, Nash, Maher.

• Lymington will be hoping to bounce back from their nine-wicket drubbing at St Cross when they travel to Division One rivals Totton & Eling.

Lymington: Pain, Treagus, Cowley, C Grierson, Kelly, Lammiman, E Freeman, Khan, Barton, Elliott, Higginson.