BEN Thane has left Hook and Newnham Basics to join promoted Basingstoke and North Hants to have what he describes as “one last go” at playing top level of Southern Premier League cricket.

The lead all-rounder leaves Hook with a heavy heart, having spent the last 12 seasons there, during which time he made nine hundreds and 46 half-centuries, scoring 5,650 runs and taking over 150 wickets.

Thane had several spells as Hook and Newnham Basics captain including last season when he took over the armband when Matt Love stepped down.

Thane explained: “The only reason for the move is to test myself at the highest club level again.

“I went to Hook 12 years ago with aspirations of playing ‘gold’ Premier Division cricket with them.

“We came close, finishing runners-up in Division One four times in seven seasons, but didn’t quite make it.”

Thane, who reaches 34 years of age next month, is looking forward to joining Hook’s arch rival neighbours Basingstoke and North Hants, who won promotion to the Premier Division at the end of last season.

Thane continued: “I want to have a go whilst I am still pretty fit and feel I can do a good job. If I didn’t have a go I would regret it in future.

“Hook will always be my club and will always be in my heart.

“I don’t have any regrets at Hook and not a bad word to say about what is a fantastic club run by fantastic people who can’t do enough for you.

“The move (to Basingstoke) is simply to better my cricket and have a go.

“I really feel Basingstoke will have the players and infrastructure to do very well in the Premier Division.”

Thane’s switch is the first of several significant signings Basingstoke and North Hants skipper Mitchell Stokes plans to announce in the build up to the new cricket season.

“There are i’s to be dotted and t’s to be crossed on a couple of other potential new arrivals, but they are exciting one’s.

“Ben’s move from Hook will at last give Dan Belcher a regular opening batting partner.

“Dan had eight different players opening the batting alongside him last summer and must have felt in the Alistair Cook mould.”

Stokes has certainly been encouraged by the turn out of players for pre-season training, which has been supervised by former Hampshire wicketkeeper Michael Bates and county seam all-rounder Ryan Stevenson.

“The numbers have been very good, the best I’ve ever seen,” he smiled.

“We attracted some new players to the club, some local guys and others that have moved to the area for work, so it’s looking promising.

“We’ve never really had people pushing each other for places in the teams, but I hope this year is going to be completely different.”

Basingstoke, whose second team has also been promoted (into Premier Division 2), will be making an early start to their outdoor programme with home and away fixtures against Guildford on April 14.

They will also play Sunbury and Andover either side of an ECB Royal London Club Championship first round visit to Totton and Eling on April 22.