Darwen Cricket Club start the new campaign with a tough game at last season's title winners St Anne's tomorrow.

This is followed with an equally competitive game at home to Netherfield next week.

Then on Sunday April 27, Darwen will entertain Colwyn Bay in the first round of the Lancashire Cup.

New captain Andrew Cook expects several players to step up to the mark during the opening games following the departure of the prolific Keith Semple and Andrew Mercer.

But the club is boosted by the return of John Cordingley following his successful stint with Rishton, who won the Lancashire League last season.

Chairman Matthew Grant said: "To have finished third in the league was a magnificent achievement, given the fact that we lost so many games to the weather.

"We will no doubt miss Keith and Andrew but with John Cordingley back and people like Stuart Hampson, Nathan Carr, Nial Burke and Michael Clarkson pushing for places, I'm sure we will continue to be a tough team to beat.

"We are delighted that professional Atif Ashraf is back with us for his third season and we must not forget that he signed off last year with his record breaking 208 not out, the only player in the League's 55-year history to break the 200-run barrier.

"Other key players will be Gareth Cordingley, the Clarke brothers, Mark Emery and Jeff Hacking.

"So I hope that the people of Darwen will get behind the team and come down on match days to give us their full support."