Spa CC announce friendly double bill

Although the club are well and truly back in pre-season training, they will host back-to-back friendly matches at Jubilee Park on the weekend of April 8-9.

First up will be Nottinghamshire side Gedling CC on the Saturday.

This will be followed up on the Sunday with the arrival of Haddon CC, who are based in Northamptonshire.

Sri Lankan international Prasanna Jayawardene will remain with the Spa man for the 2017 campaign, after putting down some roots in Lincolnshire.

And skipper Jack Luffman says that the player-coach - who has played 58 tests for his country, scoring four centuries - is eager for the summer to start.

“I’m sure he’s had options to do other things, but he appears to have made his decision on international and professional cricket,” he said.

“It seems other things aren’t just for him and he is planning for a future.

“He’s settled his family in Woodhall and he’s happy, but I wouldn’t say he’s enjoyed the winter. Every time I see him he just says ‘it’s cold’.

“But he’s enjoying life, he’s a little bit more relaxed that he used to be and he’s a great asset to the club.”