Ashtead Cricket Club skipper Tom Deighton knows there will come a time when Surrey CCC’s Dom Sibley has to put county before club.

The 19-year-old Surrey man has been pivotal in Ashtead’s unbeaten start to life in Divison One of the Surrey Championship.

Saturday’s nine-wicket win over Malden Wanderers has Deighton’s men sitting pretty on top of the table, level on points with Spencer, who they face this weekend.

Wanderers elected to bat and were promptly skittled for just 78 in the 37th over – Jordan Thomas (4-23) was the stand-out bowler.

In reply, only opener Michael Sanderson lost his wicket as Ashtead cruised to 81-1 in the 12th over to claim the simple win.

Sibley hit an unbeaten 31 in the run chase, to add to the 52 he hit in the opening day win at Farnham.

However, having been named in the Surrey side that went to Northhants this week in County Championship action, Deighton knows his star man may be available all season.

“Dom has been great for us, and his runs have been invaluable,” he said.

“We know there will be times when he cannot play so we’re always grateful when we have in the team.

“He’s an honest guy who, if he can play he will.”

“Playing alongside the likes of [Kumar] Sangakarra and [Kevin] Pietersen is great for him, but when he’s an Ashtead lad, and when he is here he does not play the big guy.”

Deighton also puts the flying start down to keeping the majority of last season’s Division Two championship winning side together, with the addition of an overseas seamer.

“We brought in an Aussie called Jordan Thomas, who can lead our attack,” he said.

“We’ve struggled for pace on our pitch, but since we put a new deck in three years ago it’s got better, and Jordan can benefit from that.”

He added: “It was vital to get a good start because our record in the early games of a season is not great.

“Yes, we’ve hit the ground running, but we need to maintain that. It will be difficult against Spencer as they are one of the teams you would expect to be challenging at the top.”