Sutton Cricket Club’s new skipper Johannes Myburgh has a wealth of experience at the crease, but the South African admitted he has more to offer to his new team.

After a spell at Gander Green Lane in 2003, the 32-year-old has returned to lead the side’s Premier Division campaign, keen to improve on last term’s seventh-place finish.

And Myburgh faces a baptism of fire with a trip to last year’s runners-up Sunbury on Saturday, followed by the visit of champions Wimbledon a week later.

But having played for a plethora of clubs, including Hampshire, Durham and Northerns in South Africa since taking up the bat in the late 1990s, it is the fresh challenges that will keep Myburgh going.

He said: “In professional cricket you never really know what your next step is going to be. This is my next challenge and I am looking forward to it.

“The club has been proactive in terms of their thinking and what they want to achieve, which is quite exciting and for me to be a part of that is perfect.

“And it’s a great opportunity for the younger players to progress their cricket and take another step towards professional cricket.”

Despite having 5,509 first class runs in 80 matches to his name, and an average of 28.58 in 97 one-day games, Myburgh has more to offer Sutton in his other role as first team coach than cricket advice.

“I am lucky to have played cricket all over the world for quite a few different clubs and that has taught me lessons about cricket as a whole,” he said.

“I hope to use that to help the players on the field and the club as a whole.

“I want the players to improve, but not just as cricket players, in terms of life as well.

“When I was younger, people would say you won’t know what batting is all about until you reach 28 and I would laugh. But it is true.

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“It is all about what opportunities come along and how you perform.”

Myburgh’s task has been boosted by the return of John Fry, the record run scorer in the Surrey Championship, after a two-year stint at Purley CC.

Other new names include Surrey academy players Harry Allen and Aman Shinwari, as well as Ross Goodwin and Garth Foote.