The long-range forecast for the summer may be wet and warm but it can't dampen the enthusiasm for a new JCT600 Bradford League cricket season.

Round one is next Saturday and there is plenty of evidence that unchanged Woodlands, who won by 72 points last year, will face a stiffer challenge as they bid to make it four championships in a row.

Pudsey Congs, for example, with Matthew Doidge back at the helm, have signed off-spinner Jeremy Batty and reliable left-handed bat Mark Gill.

With enthusiasm from 19-year-old overseas player Mohammed Naved from Lahore, league representative Derrick Reason said: "We certainly hope that we will make things closer than last year, and with Glenn Roberts and Jeremy we have two of the best spinners in the league."

East Bierley might have lost opening bowler Greg Lambert, lower-order bat Tom Owens (to their second team) and the waning talent of Jaffer Nazir but they have signed the all-round industry of Chris Elstub (Spen Victoria) and wicketkeeper-batsman Greg Wood from the Yorkshire Academy.

"We are also going to give Daniel Abbott a go in the first team," said league representative Ian Ormondroyd.

And although Hanging Heaton are at Woodlands next weekend and at home to Bierley on May 3, they have a dangerous look about them.

"Imran Arif looks a very fast bowler in the nets and both of the Rashid brothers look good with their batting," said Hanging Heaton's Nat Lawrence.

"Rizwan Ahmed is a class act and we have retained players such as Nick Summerscales and Alan Mynett as captain. Of course, it could all unravel on the opening day but we hope not."

Baildon's league representative Mick Illingworth says: "Hanging Heaton could be a surprise horse but we want to challenge the top three of Woodlands, Pudsey Congs and East Bierley.

"We have lost Jeremy Batty but overall I don't think we are weaker because we have signed Stuart Lemon and Ahsan Butt."

Cleckheaton, who already have their overseas player Louis Aspeling in place and have signed the experienced Neil Nicholson from Idle, will do well to emulate their fourth place, while I would back Pudsey St Lawrence to finish higher than their eighth of 2007.

Although skipper Andrew Doidge has retired after two injury-hit seasons, Saints have all-rounder Chris Marsden back at his spiritual home and have the experience of Steve Thompson behind the stumps.

"Chris has been offered second-team cricket by both Warwickshire and Essex but that shouldn't affect his availability for us," said cricket secretary Tony Moore.

"We are very optimistic about the coming season and junior Luke Duckitt should be knocking on the door too."

Manningham Mills' sixth place in their first season back in the top flight has given promoted Yeadon hope but Esholt's cricket secretary David Young says he would be delighted if his side finish third from bottom, However, Yeadon's league representative Les Wood said: "We are looking at mid-table."

While Saltaire have promoted Tom Slater, Tauseef Arshad, Awais Ijaz and Nadeem Mohammed from within, they also feel they have adequately covered the loss of Imran Arif by signing Tim Linley from Brighouse.

Bradford & Bingley, who have Phil Slater at the helm instead of Carl Sharp, are aiming for the top half of the table and Bowling Old Lane also want improvement, while Pete Bradley, secretary of much-changed Brighouse, says: "We wanted a fresh start after the disappointing performances of our team both on and off the field last season".

  • See tomorrow's T&A for a full list of Division One ins and outs