IN the Darlington Building Society NYSD ECB Premier League, reigning champions Richmondshire travel to the SCG to take on hosts Stokesley in their opening fixture of the 2022 cricket season.

Skipper Rob Carr said: “Shafiqullah Ghafari from Afghanistan joins as our overseas professional and has been in recent IPL and Hundred auctions for his leg spin. In addition, Jonathan Pears a keeper/batsman joins from Burnopfield, as does Dale Marshall from Darlington RA, Jamie Stead a former player and Tom Brooks an Australian, who will be our overseas amateur leg spinner.”

Carr added: “We are hopeful that despite some notable outgoings, we will remain competitive at the top of the league this season, with us chasing four league titles in a row. We are excited to see the overseas professional, alongside Gary Pratt who is remaining with us and are hopeful that we have strengthened the club enough to cover the outgoings, alongside some high expectations for a few of our proven regular players like Mike Layfield, Sam Wood, and Josh Dowson.”

The visitors have signed Andile Mogakane, a South African all-rounder, Fez Hussain from Marton, Finley Morris from Whitby and Ben Peacock from Thornaby, to strengthen their squad for the upcoming season.

Barnard Castle were runners up last season and they host Billingham Synthonia, who had a great season, finishing in third place. Skipper James Quinn said: “We are pretty much unchanged from last year and we are delighted to welcome back overseas professional Samarth Seth, but unfortunately he misses our first game next week, but will fly in from Delhi the following week. English professional Karl Carver is also back for this season, and both are raring to go and hope to contribute to another successful season.”

Quinn added: “We are looking to challenge on all fronts again this year with the Premier League being top of that list. Looking around the teams I think this season will be one of the most open and competitive years in recent times, so we’ll have to step up our game from last year if we want to be in the hunt for trophies.”

Synners press officer Danny Phillips said: “We have Tayyab Tahir returning for a third season as overseas professional and Mujtaba Saleem has joined as overseas amateur for 2022. Sam Garraghan has joined from Washington, alongside David Ward from Wolviston.

“We are looking to build on an excellent season which the club had in 2021, with the hope of winning some silverware.”

Promoted Darlington open their campaign at Feethams and welcome Middlesbrough. Club official Garry Moody said: “The club is looking to establish itself back in the Premier Division, with Mohammed Saad as overseas professional and Craig Marshall as English professional. Liam Burgess, a left arm spinner, has joined from Chester-le-Street and Liam Coates returns after two years with Marton, alongside Toby Lush who returns after being at university.”

Boro skipper Matthew Bell said: “We have signed youngster Clarke Doughney ahead of the new season. Clarke is an exciting young spinner who plays for the Yorkshire Academy, alongside teenagers Rhys Ditta, Matthew Maloy and Johnny Woods, who are also very exciting prospects. James Lowe returns as professional after a very successful 2021 season.”

In addition, the visitors have also signed Nathan Bell from Normanby Hall and welcomed the return of both Sam Harper and Alex Gunn back to the club, after not playing in previous seasons, while Alfie Taylor-Clarke has moved on to Great Ayton.

Hartlepool welcome Marton to Park Drive and club secretary Mike Gough said: “We have signed Johnny Bushnell from the Durham Academy and Josh Tribeck from Saltburn, with Yash Vagadia likely to be available all season. This season looks highly competitive this season and we are aiming for a top four finish plus cup success as we have in previous seasons.”

The visitors have been busy recruiting, with overseas professional Rahul Dalal joining from India and overseas amateur Chanluke van Niewenhuizen from the Pretoria region of South Africa. Sam Berry will be a useful addition to the bowling attack, alongside Ashley Field from Kempston Hammers and Luke Gettings returns to his former club from Thornaby.

Stockton were promoted as champions from division one and entertain Great Ayton, who avoided relegation on the last day of last season. Stalwart Leigh Beaumont said: “The team is captained by Joe Hewison and vice-captain is Matty Gill. We have strengthened this season with the return of Chris Hooker from Washington and the re-signing of Mitchell Gardner as overseas amateur, an opening bowler who played for the club in the NEPL in 2016 and performed well.”

Beaumont added: “In addition, Johnathan Rickard also returns to the club from Thornaby, to add further experience to a team with a good blend of ex professionals and talented young players. As for team news, Rickard, Jimmy Ward due to football commitments and Richard Waite are unavailable, but we will still field a strong side for our opening game.”

Tom Leng has taken over the Ayton captaincy and welcomes new overseas professional Mohammed Mayet, an all-rounder from South Africa. Leng said: “In addition, we welcome wicket-keeper Wian van Zyl, Joe Marsay and Alfie Taylor-Clarke to the club and we would expect to be challenging in all competitions.”

Thornaby official Steven Purcifer said: “We entertain Saltburn and overseas professional Husnain Bokhari remains at the club, which will be his second season with us. Our overseas amateur is Ahsan Hafeez Bhatti an all-rounder, Dominic Leech a Yorkshire CC professional opening bowler and Daniel Clarke returns to his home club.”

Purcifer added: “We are looking to finish in the top half of the table and hopefully be very competitive in cup competitions, as last year we reached two finals and a semi-final.”