PADIHAM professional Ajay Sharma is looking forward to his return to English cricket after a nine year absence.

Sharma used to play in the Central Lancashire League for Ashton in 1991 but returned to India, where he featured in the national squad until 1994.

He's been captaining Delhi for the past few years but was keen to return to England, and former local leading amateur Pankaj Tripathi helped the 36-year-old become Padiham's paid man for this season.

"I want to help them retain the title for the third time," said Sharma who has a tough act to follow in Mark Harvey.

"We have got a very good batting line up and a good team of bowlers. I also bowl left arm so we have a well balanced side. I don't know too much about the opponents with me just coming over but I want to score a lot of runs, take a lot of wickets and do well for Padiham," he said. Padiham's opener against Edenfield was washed-out last week so their first game is probably one of the biggest of the season -- against last season's runners-up, and Ramsbottom Cup winners, Ribblesdale Wanderers.

Wanderers did manage to get some cricket in last weekend -- they made 63-2 against Whalley before rain stopped play.

Whalley, whose bowlers got some practice in that game against Ribblesdale, welcome Baxenden to Station Road while Cherry Tree, the only side so far to get a win on the board, travel to Clitheroe.

Settle welcome Barnoldswick to Marshfield while Blackburn Northern, who finished bottom last time out, make the short trip to Great Harwood, who ended last season in fourth spot.

Fixtures: Clitheroe v Cherry Tree; Great Harwood v Blackburn Northern, Oswaldtwistle Immanuel v Edenfield, Padiham v Robb Wanderers, Read v Earby, Settle v Barnoldswick, Whalley v Baxenden.