2019 season

Team-by-team guide

Cheshire County League

Sports writer Andrew Simpson casts his eye over what has been a busy winter for clubs across mid Cheshire as they prepare for a new season.

Oulton Park, Davenham and Northwich have all changed captain since the end of last term, and the respective objectives for their sides are contrasting.

Here’s an introduction to where they find themselves:

Oulton Park

ECB Premier Division

Captain Martyn East

Erstwhile skipper Patrick Roberts has relocated, while Muhammad Shahbaz (667 runs) and Muhammad Kashif (36 wickets) both left over the winter after making significant contributions.

However Danny Leech, Cheshire's three-day captain, remains and his experience will be relied upon while the likes of Northwich duo Andrew Dufty and James Plant adjust to playing in the top-flight.

They are not the only new signings; pace bowler Matthew Worsdale has switched from Davenham, while Weaverham pair Jonny Little and James Oldham have transferred too.

A list of recruits is completed by George and Harry Newton from Nantwich.

Nick Ward, a batsman, arrives from New Zealand as Oulton Park's overseas player for 2019.

Last season

League 8th

T20 Group stage

Cheshire Cup Winners

Northwich Guardian:

Martyn East has taken over from Patrick Roberts as first-team captain at Oulton Park for their latest Cheshire County League campaign

Davenham

Division One

Captain Ben Gough

Now established in the second tier after a series of mid-table finishes, the men from Butcher’s Stile can set their sights higher.

Ben Gough takes the reigns as first-team captain from Danny Hancock, who will hopefully bowl more overs than he did in 2018, while Sam Hatcher has been recruited from Toft.

Matthew Nicholls, a batsmen from Gauteng in South Africa, expects to make more of an impact as an overseas signing after Hugh Walker’s struggles at the crease last summer.

Chris Clarkson is another new face.

Steve Bliss and James Loveridge have moved away from the area, and plan to play for a club closer to their new home, while Matthew Worsdale has stepped up to the Premier Division after signing for Oulton Park.

Last season

League 7th

T20 Group stage

Northwich Guardian:

Danny Hancock has stepped down after two seasons as captain at Davenham, and Ben Gough takes over for the 2019 campaign

Northwich

Division Two

Captain Gladwin Cherian

The Moss Farm outfit’s objective is clear; avoid being relegated.

Mark Walker has retired while James Plant, captain last season, has departed for Oulton Park.

He is joined there by slow bowler Andrew Dufty, their leading wicket-taker in each of the past three summers.

They are trying to recruit an overseas signing to replace the 600 runs, and 30-plus wickets, contributed by Sri Lankan Tharusha Fernando in 2018.

Last season 7th

T20 Group stage

Cheshire Shield Semi-finals