CAPTAIN Graeme Butcher admits it is a dream come true to become first-team Swans skipper.

The opening batsman has taken up the mantle from Dan Goff and hopes to oversee a successful campaign for the Marshall Hatchick Two Counties Championship side.

They won by 84 runs at home to Lakenheath last weekend and that success came hot on the heels of their opening victory of the new season, against Ipswich the previous Saturday.

Butcher is relishing the responsibility of being captain and describes it as a "privilege".

"When I first started playing for the club in my teenage years, becoming first-team captain felt like something to aspire to," he said.

"It was a dream I held while progressing through the teams, starting playing with my dad in the Sunday thirds before making it to the first team on a Saturday.

"Over the intervening period, it seemed that might not become a reality but the opportunity arose at the end of last season and I'm delighted to be able to captain the side and very proud to have the privilege of being Mistley skipper.

"Hopefully I can lead us to some successful times in the coming months and years."

By his own admission, Butcher says it has been an inconsistent start to the campaign.

The Swans skipper knows there is room for improvement and says availability, and therefore continuity, has been a contributory factor.

"We've had a selection of regulars that have played each week but have had to shuffle things around to make our final 11, which hasn't helped," he said.

"But I'm very confident that if we can get our strongest side out regularly, we'll be a match for anyone.

"Our squad is largely the same as last season, with different people coming and going at different times due to commitments outside of cricket, but I expect the majority of players from last season to appear heavily again in 2019.

"The one major addition is that of South African Kalipha Cele (known as KC), replacing Sizwe Masondo, who performed really well for us last season.

"KC looks set to score a lot of runs for us this season.

"I also hope to see some of our younger guys step up and make a case to be selected as the season progresses."

After winning the toss and electing to bat against Lakenheath, Mistley made a mammoth 349 for four in their 50 overs.

This was thanks to Matthew Bibby's 112, Cele's 103 and James Scott's 61.

In reply, Lakenheath were restricted to 265 for nine in their 50 overs.

Jimmy Goff took three wickets and there were two for Dan Goff.