PREMIER OPENS TODAY

By Ann Boulton

Volcanic ash may have delayed his arrival in Lincoln, but Kiwi Josh Brodie is again set to erupt on to the Readers Lincolnshire ECB Premier League scene with a return to St Giles Avenue.
Lindum have secured the services of their former top batsman for the first half of the new season, giving a huge boost to their batting line-up. He will join Richard Cross, who hit an unbeaten 96 in a pre-season friendly at Skegness and Alex Hornsby, giving Lindum a formidable top order.
Brodie (pictured), who is now a member of the New Zealand Emerging Players side for whom he has scored a century and two 50s, should have arrived last weekend and his team mates are now hoping that flight restrictions will be lifted in time for him to turn out against league newcomers Hartsholme today (Saturday). Hartsholme are captained by Nathan Poundall, with Australian Ben Davis as their overseas player and, while fellow newcomers Boston have played at this level previously, the Ashby Avenue side will be an unknown quantity to many Premier League opponents
Bracebridge Heath are at home to Woodhall Spa, having secured the services of their opponents’ former opening bat Andrew Crook. The champions also have a new wicketkeeper in Jason Scheepers , newly signed from demoted Messingham.
Scheepers replaces Peter Morgan following the county player’s move to take over as captain at Bourne who have also signed batsman Conrad Louth from Woodhall and are expecting an overseas player from Pakistan.
Morgan will enjoy his first outing as skipper when he takes his team to Grimsby who welcome back popular Sri Lankan Gihan Perera. Grimsby have lost Geoff Middleton, who is now playing at Lindum but will be relying on their ever-improving young side to hold their own once again in the top flight.
Boston’s first fixture back in the Premier League is away at Skegness who are now skippered by Tony Santini and were strongly rumoured to have recruited Jacob Oram! Their signing did attend the same school as the Kiwi international but is, in fact, 19 year old all-rounder Roald Bradenhurst, a member of the New Zealand Centre of Excellence.
An unexpected bonus for the seasiders has been the return of Saeed Bariwala who had intimated that he might be moving overseas and Skegness have also welcomed back batsman Peter Houghton.
Boston have retained the services of Australian Daniel Milgate and he and the much-improved Cheer brothers, Colin and Jonathan, will be relishing their return to Premier League cricket.
Louth, in their first full season back at London Road, begin their programme with a trip down to Market Deeping. Louth, captained once again by Arran Brindle, have also signed a New Zealander, Seth Rance, while Deeping have a 19 year old Australian Brodie Andrew in their side which will again be skippered by David Gillett.
Warren Nel returns to familiar territory when he travels with his new team, Nettleham, for their opening fixture at Sleaford, where he played as wicketkeeper/batsman in 2008. He is joined in the Mulsanne Park side by former Messingham bowler Ben Brumby, both of them playing under new captain David Manby.

OPENING FIXTURES
12 o’ clock start)
Market Deeping v Louth
Bracebridge Heath v Woodhall Spa
Hartsholme v Lindum
Sleaford v Nettleham
Grimsby v Bourne
Skegness v Boston