CHARLIE Miller is calling on Shipton-under-Wychwood’s young guard to step up to the plate this season.

The side, who are now captained by overseas all-rounder Anupam Sanklecha, head into the 2018 campaign off the back of a winter of change.

Charlie Brain has stepped down as skipper, but will continue to play.

However, Shaun Miller has moved down to the 2nd XI, while Simon Hole is taking a break and Andrew Hemming can no longer commit to the all-day format following the birth of his child.

At the age of 17, Charlie Miller recognises it is time for the younger players to take on more responsibility – emphasised by his decision to become the club’s vice-captain.

“We’ve had a couple leave or drop down to the second team, it’s going to be a good year for the youngsters to step in,” he said.

“It’s time for people like myself, and a couple of the lads who have had a few seasons in the league, to step up.”

Their Division 2 season begins at Buckingham Town on Saturday.

Shipton have added to their squad in the form of former Horspath duo Hasam Ali and Adeel Rehman.

But Miller knows the side have a fight on their hands in the Home Counties Premier League.

He said: “We want to survive.

“To expect much more than that with the side we have is probably unrealistic.

“We’ve got a lot of young players coming through and a nice measure of progress will be seeing them doing well.

“That will be a good reward for the club because all of them would have come through the youth system here.”