No team has suffered as dramatic a fall from grace recently in the JCT600 Bradford League as Baildon.

The 2009 champions – that was their first title since 1952 – finished eighth in 2010 and were relegated alongside Gomersal last season.

“We had a superb 2009 but I don’t like to think about the last two years,” said Jenny Lane skipper Craig Hitchenor.

Inevitably a demoted side tend to lose some of their better players, and Baildon are no exception as Ahsan Butt (to Hanging Heaton), Richard Atkins (East Bierley), Tabassum Bhatti (Saltaire) and Harry Smallwood (Bradford & Bingley) have departed for pastures new.

But Hitchenor is quite happy with Baildon’s new recruits as they bid to bounce straight back to Division One.

He said: “Experienced batsman Gharib Razak has joined us from East Bierley, and it might surprise a few that he has dropped down a division to play for us.

“Adam Hewitt is 20 and wasn’t getting the opportunities he would like at Pudsey Congs but I have seen him play and he could have a key role for us.

“Kasir Maroof has joined us from Yeadon, has looked impressive in the nets and will bat at No 3 for us, and Sohail Raz has taken about 40 wickets for Hunslet Nelson in the past two seasons in the Central Yorkshire League Premier Division and has also looked good in the nets.

“They are also about 20 and the mistake we have made in the past is picking 17-year-olds and 18-year-olds in the first team when it was too soon for them.

“By having 20-year-olds in the side, they have that bit more experience.”

Division Two is a new venture for veteran paceman Hitchenor but he expects stiff challenges to come from Morley and Yeadon, among others.

Baildon host Hartshead Moor on Saturday, while Morley are at home to Windhill and Yeadon visit Bankfoot.

Top match in Division One is the visit of Bradford & Bingley to East Bierley, while champions Woodlands host Hanging Heaton.

Farsley, runners-up in 2011, are at Undercliffe.