Sutton Cricket Club player-coach Keith Medlycott has tipped batsman Arun Harinath to make a big impression at the hightest level.

The 19-year-old right hander signed a summer contract with Surrey last month after helping Sutton clinch the Surrey Championship Premier Division title this year.

The talented teenager topped the club's batting averages in piling up 477 runs at 43.36 in 18 matches as Sutton clinched the title by 15 points.

Medlycott's men added a semi-final appearance in the Evening Standard Trophy and the Sutton sports team of the year to complete a superb 2006.

But Medlycott, who led the team from Division One to the peak of the region's cricket ladder in two seasons, hopes his star man isn't around for the defence of Sutton's crown.

"Fingers crossed he won't be appearing too much for us because that will mean he is playing for Surrey," he said.

"He is a very talented player. I believe he's got a great chance of going all the way to the top. Playing with adults has meant he has come on in leaps and bounds and has got all the attributes you need to be a top cricketer.

"He will be a big loss if he doesn't play for us much next year, but our success in the Sunday Cup this year shows we have a lot of top-quality young players with ambitions of playing in the first team.

"That was probably the most pleasing aspect of the season."

The club celebrate their 150th anniverary in 2007, when they will be defending their title triumph they achieved with 11 wins and only four defeats.

An eight-match unbeaten start laid the foundations for their title challenge and it seemed Sutton might go through the season unbeaten until they lost to Esher - who were relegated - in July.

But for the 41-year-old former Surrey head coach, who will continue playing for Sutton and Buckinghamshire in the Minor Counties Championship, the stats weren't important.

"I don't really worry about leagues because I'm happy as long as players do themselves justice," Medlycott said.

"The manner in which we played - going out to win every match - was pleasing. Everyone contributed along the way.

"Sometimes you look at things too individually but, at crucial stages of the season, big players have to stand up for the cause of the team.

"It doesn't matter who that person is and, in the past two years, we've certainly had that."

Medlycott will be hoping he can hang on to the likes of 36-wicket spinner Bilal Butt and former Surrey paceman Phil Sampson, who bagged 50 league wickets last season.

Sutton begin the defence of their title on May 12 against Weybridge, who provided a final-day blemish on Sutton's unbeaten home record.

But Medlycott won't be seeking revenge.

"I don't worry about things like that. We will just look to do our best," he added.