FIVE South Africans, two Australians and an American form an intriguing overseas contingent who will be taking their bow in the opening round of 50-over games for 2002 on Saturday.

Andover, Calmore Sports, Liphook & Ripsley, Portsmouth and South Wilts have recruited from South Africa while Burridge went to Atlanta Georgia, on the USA's east coast, for overseas support.

But it's odds-on that the two Aussies - Bashley's Luke Ronchi, and BAT Sports-bound Michael Watson - will make the biggest impact.

Both are highly respected A-Grade batsmen in their respective Perth and Sydney competitions, and could have a significant influence on the Premier scene in the coming four months.

Ronchi, 21, needs little or no introduction. He spent two previous summers with Bashley, in 1999 and 2000, scoring over 1,200 runs as a highly rated teenager !

Now he's back after spending a year in Rod Marsh's renowned Australian cricket Academy and a run strewn winter back home in the demanding arena of Western Australia Pennant Grade competition.

"He's had a phenomenal winter playing for his club side Perth," revealed former Hampshire opening batsman Paul Terry, who coaches rival WA club Melville.

"Luke is one of the most talented batsman/wicketkeepers I have seen.

"He has the lovely ability to time the ball sweetly in the mould of his mentor, Adam Gilchrist - and I don't say that lightly.

"He is a really fantastic timer of the ball for one so sleight of build and but for Gilchrist and Ryan Campbell being part of the WA scene, he would be playing Pura Cup (Sheffield Shield) cricket by now."

Terry watched Ronchi score 173 off his own Melville attack - an innings which catapulted the Perth prospect straight into the Western Australia side for a day-night game against Victoria at the WACA earlier this year.

"He got a double hundred in a Sunday League game and ended up with over 750 runs in the A-Grade, which is no mean feat," said Terry.

The prospect of watching Ronchi bat alongside former Hampshire left-hander Andy Sexton has Bashley skipper Neil Taylor drooling.

But Bashley's ability to launch a challenge on champions BAT Sports could hinge on whether top 2001 wicket-taker Matt King is fit.

King, who grabbed 35 wickets last season, is suffering from chest and rib injuries and doubtful for Saturday's opener at Burridge.

BAT swept to the championship on the strength of 11 successive wins during the second-half of last season.

Michael Watson, a hard-hitting left-hander from the University of New South Wales Grade side, replaces team-mate Dave Carson as BAT's overseas player.

Teenager Damian Shirazi returned from a winter in NSW with rave reports about Watson's batting prowess and expects the Sydney Customs man to be among the leading SPL run scorers this summer.

BAT have bolstered their seam attack by recruit- ing Kirk Stewart, from Andover.