Association to get underway

Elton were the undisputed outstanding team of last season when they won the league and Cross Cup double.

They begin their title defence tomorrow with a home game against Adlington knowing that they will face plenty of challenges if they are to stay at the top.

A strong one is expected to come from Walshaw, who finished one point behind second-placed Edgworth.

Walshaw are accustomed to winning, with five Association league titles in the last eight years and they have a top professional in their ranks in Vinit Indulkar.

He finished second in the batting averages last season, with an average of 80 runs per innings, behind Darcy Lever's Devendra Bundela who has moved on this season to be replaced by Indian Sivaramakrishnan Vidyut.

Walshaw will be hit by the loss of opening batsman and wicket-keeper Anthony Harris and they begin their season with a trip to Daisy Hill - who have a new pro in Kursheed Ahmad - tomorrow.

Elton, whose title victory was their second in the last three years, have lost leading players Mark Goddard and Damien Keegan.

Edgworth will be hoping to go one better than last season and win the league with virtually the same side. Tahir Maqsood will pro again and they start their season at home to Spring View who could have a top batting line-up.

Iain Critchley has joined from Adlington as professional, Ibra Ali skippers the side and former captain Andrew Robinson rejoins from Adlington.

Parvez Suma returns to professional duties by replacing Critchley at Adlington. He impressed as pro at Lostock two years ago and again as amateur at Daisy Hill last season.

Standish have secured the services of Bazid Khan who could prove to be one of the top talents in the Association. The 26-year-old was a big player at Astley and Tyldesley a few years ago and has played one Test and three one-day internationals for Pakistan since.

Standish hope he will arrive in time to play at home to Atherton who had a solid season last term with a sixth-placed finish and runners-up spot in the Cross Cup. They retain Chris Street as pro and the new captain is Neil Bannister.

Astley and Tyldesley, who are away to Darcy tomorrow, have Jamaican David Bernard as pro.

Last season's bottom club, Blackrod, have signed Richard Rostron as their new pro from Rishton and they begin with a trip to Little Hulton, third bottom last term, who have signed Indian Vinayak Ramesh Mane as pro.

Golborne, who have South African player Matthew Parr as their new pro, have a rest day tomorrow.

Darcy Lever v Astley and Tyldesley, Edgworth v Springh View, Elton v Adlington, Little Hulton v Blackrod, Daisy Hill v Walshaw, Standish v Atherton. Open date: Golborne.

Adlington Professional: Parvez Suma.

Captain: Mick Flatters.

New professional is Parvez Suma, formerly professional at Lostock in 2005. Last year he played as an amateur at Daisy Hill and represented the inter-league team that reached the MEN Knockout final.

Astley & Tyldesley Professional: David Bernard.

Captain: Chris Bullock.

New professional is 25-year-old David Bernard from Jamaica. He bats at number six for the island and is a right arm medium quick bowler. He has scored over 2,000 first class runs. He has one Test cap and has made four one-day international appearances, all coming in 2003. The club will be hoping their pro will be able to last a full season after previous disappointments.

Atherton Professional: Chris Street.

Captain: Neil Bannister.

Chris Streete has been re-engaged as professional after a sound season with both bat and ball last year. The squad will be the same as last season.

Blackrod Professional: Richard Rostron.

Captain: Graeme Walsh.

There will be major changes to the Blackrod line-up as they hope to improve on the previous years' poor performances. The new professional is 23-year-old Richard Rostron from Rishton. He is a right hand bat and right arm medium paced bowler. He brings with him 19-year-old Mick Winkley from his previous club. Neil Tonge has been appointed coach and he has persuaded his brother, Paul, to join him, both coming from Malpas.

Daisy Hill Professional: Kursheed Ahmad.

Captain: Duncan Brookes.

Kursheed Ahmad, who is resident in the UK, will take over from Faisal Khan Aafridi as professional. Former Bolton League player Paul Hindley is expected to join and the side could include more new faces.

Darcy Lever Professional: Sivaramakrishnan Vidyut.

Captain: Nick Fawcett.

A new professional, Sivaramakrishnan Vidyut, who represents Tamil Nadu in India will hope to fill the huge gap left by former professional, Devendra Bundela. Siva is a left hand bat with more than 2,000 first class runs and is a slow left arm bowler with 86 first class wickets. Clifton's Andrew Griffiths returns to the Association after a successful debut season in the Central Lancs League.

Edgworth Professional: Tahir Maqsood.

Captain: Guy Haynes.

No major changes at Edgworth as the side will hope to go one better than last year's runners-up spot. Tahir Maqsood returns as professional after an impressive debut season. John Partington is coach and captain is Guy Haynes.

Elton Professional: Steve Dearden.

Captain: John Pemberton.

Last season's double winners again look strong with Steve Dearden as professional and Dexter Fitton as coach. They will probably be the side the others have to beat. Following the departure of last season's captain, Mark Goddard, who has left the area, John Pemberton will skipper the side, a role he has held before. Damien Keegan also leaves, for Central Lancashire League side, Radcliffe.

Golborne Professional: Matthew Parr.

Captain: John Waterworth.

Much will rest on the shoulders of new professional, Matthew Parr, who plays for the Pirate Club in Johannesburg. Matthew is 24 years old, a right hand bat and right arm medium paced bowler. The captain is John Waterworth who had success when he took over half way through last season.

Little Hulton Professional: Vinayak Ramesh Mane.

Captain: Ashley Perry.

A 24-year-old Indian, Vinayak Ramesh Mane replaces Mark Penney as professional. Mane is a right hand opening batsman with almost 3,000 first class runs. In the recent Ranji Trophy at the end of March he scored 86 for Mumbai. He is an off spin bowler. He represents the same side as Walshaw's professional, Vinit Indulkar. New captain Ashley Perry's brother, Luke, joins him from Farnworth SC as does Darren Mullinuex who was last year's skipper at Farnworth SC. Penney makes the opposite journey to Farnworth SC. Also joining is Pakistani left arm quick bowler, Navid Arif Gondal.

Spring View Professional: Iain Critchley.

Captain: Ibra Ali.

Former Todmorden and Widnes slow left armer, Ibra Ali, skippers the side and Ian Critchley returns as professional from Adlington. Also joining from Adlington will be opening batsman and captain of a few years ago, Andrew Robinson. On paper the Spring View batting line-up looks capable of posing a threat.

Standish Professional: Bazid Khan.

Captain: Nigel Geary.

Bazid Khan has the talent to be one of the top performers this season. The Pakistan international was successful when he last played for Astley and Tyldesley a few years ago and has played one Test Match and three one-day internationals for his country since. Muhammad Kamran Hussain, who has been a professional in the Middlesex and Glasgow leagues, also arrives while Rick Parker leaves for Westhoughton after just one season at Green Lane.

Walshaw Professional: Vinit Indulkar.

Captain: Rob Faulkner.

Returning as professional is 22-year-old Vinit Indulkar after a successful season in 2006, which saw Walshaw finish third. A big loss will be wicket-keeper and opening bat, Andrew Harris's departure for Bamford Fieldhouse.