Lancashire League preview

"I can't remember finishing out of the bottom two for a while before that, so we're just hoping to carry on improving and try to have a run in one of the cups.

"We've made some good signings. Brian Heywood is very experienced and will be a good addition to what is still a young side. Toby Bulcock is a promising youngster."

BACUP 1st XI skipper: John Chapman Professional: Chris Harris (New Zealand) In: None Out: James Cunliffe and Matt O'Connor (both unavailable) Captain's view: "It's been a sweet and sour summer for the club. We have replaced Chris Cairns with another top professional in Kiwi Chris Cairns. He'll be one of the top bowlers in the league, and we're expecting him to top the 100 wickets mark.

"And if Harris takes 800-900 with the bat, then we're in with a big chance.

"We finished second last season, and we're looking to be a top six side again.

"But we've lost James Cunliffe and Matt O'Connor this year due to work commitments, and they will be big misses."

BURNLEY 1st XI skipper: Jonathan Harvey Professional: Jonathan Harvey (Eng) In: Bharat Tripathi (Lowerhouse), Chris Whitwell (Colne), Tayyib Jamil (Nelson) Out: Steve Holden, Gareth Halley Captain's view: "We've strengthened the squad and I think we're looking stronger than we did last season.

"We came on strong at the end of last season and that consistency helped us to win the title.

"I think I've probably got a squad of 15 players who are capable of playing first team cricket and it's up to the boys to keep their place if they're selected.

"It's a pretty open competition this season and the team who can maintain their level of performance will win the league."

CHURCH 1st XI skipper: Phil Sykes Professional: Ruwin Peiris (SL) In: Nasser Hussain (Accrington), Chris Wade (Haslingden) Out: Alan Howarth (retired), Andrew Metcalf, Barry Shorrock and Mark Gilrane (all Oswaldtwistle Immaneul) Captain's view: "We had a young side last year and I hope there were some lessons learned.

"The Lancashire League is a hard school and we will be looking to build on that, although we are not making any wild predictions.

"Alec Holt will strengthen our batting. He only played three matches last year due to work commitments.

"It's also good to have Ruwin back. He's very consistent, guaranteeing us 1,000 runs and 50 wickets, but we must give him better support."

COLNE 1st XI skipper: Stuart Lemon Professional: Greg Mail (Australia) In: Qasim Ali (Carnforth), Liam Sunter Out: Paul Wilson, Nick Moulding, Chris Whitwell (Burnley), David Swarbrick (Read), Chris Willan (Nelson) Chairman Trevor Lonsdale's view: "We have a very young side this year and there isn't a player over the age of 30 in the squad.

"But what we lack in experience we more than make up with team spirit.

"We had a dreadful season last year when we finished joint bottom but I do feel that was something of a false position. We lost our professional halfway through the campaign and it all went downhill from there.

"This season, there is a very positive feel about the club."

EAST LANCS 1st XI skipper: Mark Bolton Professional: Shanan Stewart (New Zealand) In: Phil Mooney (out of retirement) Out: Paul Turner (Orrell), Sid Patel (Orrell), Phil Mercer (retired), Ian Haworth (retired), John Fairless (left the area) Captain's view: "It's going to be a season of consolidation. We finished 10th last season and we've since lost our leading amateur batsman Paul Turner, which is a big blow because he was always good for 800 runs.

"But we've still got a reasonable batting line-up, a good young professional in Shanan Stewart, and plenty of options with the ball. I picked the pro up on Thursday and he was keen to have a net session straight away.

"If he can get 800 runs and 40-odd wickets then we'll be delighted."

ENFIELD 1st XI skipper: David Bracewell, pictured right Professional: Brandon Hiini (New Zealand) In: Keith Barker Out: None Captain's view: "We've got pretty much the same side as last year, so everyone's a year more experienced and we're hoping to finish in the top five and have a good run in the cup.

"I can't see any reason why we shouldn't be there or thereabouts because I don't think one team's going to run away with the league again. I think it will be quite close, between four or five different clubs.

"Hopefully, Brandon will be available for the full season. We have suffered in previous seasons with professionals having to return home or go on international duty."

HASLINGDEN 1st XI skipper: Mike Ingham Professional: Dan Christian (Australia) In: John Cairns Out: Paul Blackledge, Andrew Smith, Mike Blomley (all retired), John Simpson (Ormskirk) Captain's view: "We've lost a few senior players through retirement and you can't lose players of that calibre and replace them overnight.

"What I've been doing is trying to work from January onwards to get another 15 per cent out of everybody. If we can get that then I'm sure we'll be in with a chance.

"I saw our new pro for the first time in the nets this week and he looks an excellent batter.

"The lads have been working hard and, although we might not have the strongest squad, we've got a good top order that can hold their own."

LOWERHOUSE 1st XI skipper: Jon Finch Professional: To be agreed. Ryan Harris (Australia) sub pro for first six games.

In: Phil Edmondson (Burnley) and Max Howells (Read) Out: Bharat Tripathi (Burnley) and Peter Mawdsley.

Manager Stan Heaton's view: "We got off to a bad start before the season even started with the news that our professional Jon Moss wasn't coming over due to personal reasons.

"A lot now will depend on who we can get in over the next few weeks. We've got Ryan Harris, last year's pro, for the first six weeks, but at the moment we are going into the new campaign in the air a little bit."

NELSON 1st XI skipper: Michael Bradley Professional: Craig MacMillan (New Zealand) In: Chris Willan (Colne) Out: Tayyib Jamil (Burnley) Captain's view: "We finished fourth last year and we're hoping to build on that this year.

"I believe we have a realistic chance of winning the title and I'm hoping for another good season.

"We're missing Craig until the middle of May and we're hoping to get some good pros in before he arrives to make sure we have a good start.

"He's been one of the stars of the World Cup and we have to make sure the boys realise that the league doesn't start when he arrives.

"We have to get off to a good start and if we do, I'm sure we can be there or thereabouts."

RAMSBOTTOM 1st XI skipper: Simon Read Professional: Sunil Joshi (India) In: Ross Brown (Lowerhouse), Steve Leonard (Stapleton), Robert Read Out: None Chairman Neil Howarth's view: "Our preparations have gone very well and I'm very optimistic.

"For the last three or four years we've been one of the top three sides and, for the last three years, we've been leading the league at the start of August.

"Our problem has been that we haven't had an amateur who will score 500 runs, but I think we've solved that problem with the recruitment of Steve Leonard.

"I think this is probably the best chance we've had for a long time."

RAWTENSTALL 1st XI skipper: Andrew Payne Professional: Sanjay Bangar (India) In: None Out: None Captain's view: "I was thinking of retiring at the end of last season but I didn't want to go out on a sour note.

"We had a very disappointing season and there were quite a few of us who didn't perform as well as we should have. I am delighted to be back as captain, I've served this club as professional, amateur and captain which is a great honour. In recent times, I only think Jonathan Harvey at Burnley has done the same.

"Although we haven't brought in any new players, it feels like we have because the likes of Vinny Hanson, Peter Seal and Peter Wrathmell have recovered from niggling injuries while Will Cook-Martin is available again."

TODMORDEN Captain: Jon Henderson Pro: Francois du Plessis (South Africa) Ins: None Outs: Josh Webb, Paul Brierley (Didsbury) Captain's view: "With the two boys leaving, there's a couple of spots open for a couple of players from the second team to come in and make a name for themselves.

"And with Francois coming in, we look that we have a good side. He came highly recommended to us and if he performs to anywhere near his potential he'll prove to be a good signing.

"He seems to be a decent batsman and his leg-spin should do well at Centre Vale. He'll be missing in July because he's been called up by South Africa but we're hoping he'll live up to his reputation while he's here."