Ryan Cummins has spent the past four seasons guiding Beddington CC through Division One of the Surrey Championship, but next season that all changes.

Promotion to the Premier Division as runners-up was confirmed ahead of last weekend’s two-wicket defeat at Old Whitgiftians.

The rise to the top flight has been a long time in the making, a long time before Cummins came on board.

And the former Leicestershire and Northants bowler is quick to acknowledge the point, praising a team that has grown up through the colts, and who are mates first and cricketers second.

This band of brothers is breaking new ground as Beddington have never played in the top flight in the league’s modern era.

Cummins, 30, said: “We have been lucky to have a consistent set-up for a few years, where the players all know one another.

“Most have grown up through the colts and went to school together, so they are all friends.

“We had eight players who played week-in, week-out for the colts, and they have got to that age where they’re blossoming.”

He added: “We have also taken on some younger players who have provided the energy in the field, and our overseas player [Craig McElligot] has got about 550 runs.

“It’s not a massive total, but he has been a steady rock, which allowed other players to have time at the crease.

“But no one player has dominated the side, we all work very hard together and for each other.”

Beddington have lost just four games all season, but Cummins is aware that next season their task will be even tougher.

He said: “We’re looking forward to the challenge, coming up against some really big teams with big players and big money to spend.

“It is not far off the mark to say that the Surrey Championship is probably one of the toughest in the country, but it’s where we want to be.”

Surrey Comet:

Unimpressed: Old Whitgiftians' bowler Murtaza Hussein is not very happy, but his side would go on to beat Beddington, the latest addition to the Surrey Championship Premier Division