COLCHESTER and East Essex Cricket Club first-team captain Jake Foley is hoping a change in format will signal a change in fortunes for his side – starting with tomorrow’s home clash with bottom side Upminster.

The Castle Park team are still searching for their first win of the season in Shepherd Neame Essex League premier division and lie second from bottom in the table.

The league switches to the reduced 50-over format this weekend – and Foley believes playing a more aggressive type of cricket will suit his players.

Foley said: “50-over cricket will be starting this weekend and I think that will suit us a bit more.

“I think it helps us going into matches knowing that there’s going to be a result at the end of the game.

“No-one likes to lose but in the games that we’ve drawn, we’ve been in a winning position.

“In 50-over games, you know exactly what needs to be done to win a game of cricket and that will help us.

“We’re a young side growing up with Twenty20 and 50-over cricket – that’s what everyone likes to play.

“Last year, we won a lot of 50-over games and I think that will help us.

“We’ve got nine 50-over games in a row now and everyone’s looking forward to them.

“It’s an important game against Upminster and if we can put the hard work in again, I’m confident that we can get the result that we want.

“We’ve got one or two games coming up now which on paper look easier and we’ll be looking to get some wins and move up the table.”

Colchester have lost their last two premier division matches but Foley has confidence that they can turn their fortunes around.

He said: “It’s only a matter of time really and when we click, we will click.

“If we keep performing and training with the same attitude, I’m sure we’ll get the results to match that effort.

“The boys enjoy the pressure and everyone’s still OK and doing really well outside of the club, in their own personal cricket.

“We have some good young players coming through like Ben Allison, Josh Rymell and Ollie Lovejoy.”

Colchester are likely to be without experienced duo Julian Russell and Ben Stephens again for their home match with Upminster.

Key bowler Stephens is likely to be out for at least another month with a troublesome back injury.

Foley added: “Julian and Ben are both key players and it’s obviously not ideal to be without them but we still have a talented young side.”