THE Bradford Cricket League season gets into swing on Saturday with a new club in Esholt who have moved over from the Leeds League to take the place of Ben Rhydding who have made the switch the other way.

Esholt's opening game is at home to Lidget Green in Division Two where Yeadon also figure with a home game against Keighley.

Esholt will be keen to make their mark in the league while Yeadon will continue their battle under Damon Gormley to regain their spot in Division One.

Gormley will be joined at Yeadon this season by his brother Simon and he along with other newcomers in Rawdon's Darren Murray, wicketkeeper-batsman Paul Hebden from Methley and bowler John Roper from Hartshead Moor should see Yeadon's title challenge more effective this time out.

Yeadon will also welcome back Naeem Khan as their overseas player after the young Pakistani made such a good impression last season with bat, ball and in the field.

Yeadon will also be looking to further improvement from their home grown talent such as Kevin Gilks, Richard Machell, Andrew Pickering and Darren Smith as well as Craig Thornton and Jon Carey.

Yeadon Secretary John Hudson said: 'We are looking forward to the new season with great optimism. We have just missed out on promotion in the last couple of seasons and with the new signings we hope to make it this time.

'It will be interesting having Esholt in the league as they now replace Ben Rhydding as our derby side. It is a lovely spot to go and play cricket.'

Prior to Yeadon's game on Saturday a memorial seat will be unveiled.

The seat has been provided in memory of former club chairman Michael Handley.

Last season's Division One champions Bradford and Bingley will have a tough job holding on to their title following the loss of all-rounder Gareth Batty who has signed a two year contract with Surrey.

Although his spin bowling role can be taken by Matthew Cockshott and newcomer Richard Wilkinson it is Batty's runs and the speed with which he accumulated them that they will miss most.

Wilkinson joins the club from the Yorkshire Academy and is described by skipper Richard McCarthy as 'a very solid batsman with a good array of strokes'.

It is expected that the youngster from South Yorkshire will either open the innings or bat at No 3.

Yorkshire batsman Bradley Parker has left Bingley to join Undercliffe but otherwise the champions retain the same personnel as last season with a strong contingent from this side of the hill in Mc Carthy (Guiseley), David Pennett (now Ilkley), Patrick Fordham (Guiseley), Mark Best (Rawdon) and Ian Chaplin (Otley).

Bradford and Bingley open their programme with a home game against Yorkshire Bank who will be captained by Indian batsman Jatin Paranjape.

There have been a number of captaincy changes in the Bradford League with Chris Gott leaving Pudsey St Lawrence to take over the reins at Airedale and Wharfedale League club Skipton.

His place has been taken by former Yorkshire batsman Ashley Metcalfe.

It is all change in Pudsey with Congs also having a new skipper in Horsforth's Matthew Doidge who joins from Farsley.

Former Adel wicketkeeper-batsman John Goldthorp takes over as captain at Farsley who have signed Guiseley all-rounder Mark Ross. The Menston man joins Yeadon's Tony Gilks in the Farsley bowling attack.

Another new signing at Farsley is Hall Park skipper Andrew Doidge - brother of Matthew. His former Hall Park team mate Jamie Simpson has made the move with him. Farsley open their programme with a trip to Tofts Road to take on Pudsey St Lawrence.

Fixtures on the opening day are:

Division One - Bankfoot v Hanging Heaton, Bradford and Bingley v Yorkshire Bank, Cleckheaton v Pudsey Congs, East Bierley v Brighouse, Pudsey St Lawrence v Farsley, Undercliffe v Spen Victoria, Windhill v Baildon.

Division Two - Esholt v Lidget Green, Great Horton v Hartshead Moor, Idle v Salts, Lightcliffe v Drighlington, Morley v Bowling Old Lane, Saltaire v Manningham Mills, Yeadon v Keighley.

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