New captains, new players and new formats for the local leagues

The Lincs Premier Division, the Cambs League and the Hunts League have created regionalised competitons for small groups of clubs for the remainder of the summer.

There are Cambs League fixtures involving March and Wisbech tomorrow (July 18, 40 over games, 1pm starts), but Ramsey and Stamford Town have opted out of the competition for this season.

Stamford Town will contest the Hunts League in 2020 despite reaching Division One of the Cambs League for the first time in the club’s history.

Stamford skipper Tom Williams explained: “We decided to opt out of the Cambs mini league because of the amount of travelling required.

“The break from competitive cricket will do some players some good and mean our young squad will come back refresed and eager for the challenge of Cambs Division One next season, something that’s been our goal since joining the set-up six seasons ago.”

Stamford open their Hunts Division One North season at Nassington on Saturday.

There will be no overseas players knocking around the local circuit this season because of Covid-19.

Market Deeping had signed up a South African import to replace their highly successful Sri Lankan Sachithra Perera who is close to winning selection to his national T20 side. The Lincs Premier Division is due to start on July 25.

Deeping are one of several clubs to have a new skipper. James Hook will be in charge at Outgang Road, while James Williams (Wisbech), Joe Harrington (Ufford Park), Andrew Wright (March) and Courtney Kruger (Bourne) are all new appointments for 2020.

Cambs Division Two side Castor are pleased to welcome opening batsmen Mark Wheat and Cameron Dockerill back to Port Lane, but less happy to lose long-serving Ryan Evans to Ketton.

Wisbech have lost Cambs batsman/wicketkeeper Josh Bowers to higher-level Barwell.

The Rutland League is due to kick off on July 26 with the South Lincs League and Leicestershire League due to start on Saturday, August 1.

JULY 18 FIXTURES

Fixtures

Northants Premier Division (11am) - Overstone v Peterborough Town, Rushden & Higham v Oundle.

Northants Division Two (11am) - Peterborough Town 2nds v Old.

Northants Division Three (11am)- Oundle 2nds v Geddington 2nds.

Cambs Division One (1pm)- Eaton Socon v Wisbech, Cambridge 2nds v March.

Hunts Division One North (1pm) - Nassington v Stamford.