Josh Banks is banking on last season’s title winners
Stourbridge skipper Josh Banks is keen to hit the ground running tomorrow when the new Worcestershire County League swings into action.
The War Memorial Ground men are back in the feeder league for the first time since 2004 following a restructure of the Birmingham League that saw the Midlands premier league cut from four divisions to two.
Banks admits Stourbridge, who start the season at Stourport, will be stepping into the unknown but is expecting a keenly-contested battle throughout the summer.
“Following the restructure I expect the league to be competitive and I wouldn’t think any team is going to breeze it,” said Banks, who is starting his third season at the helm and led his side to the Birmingham League Division Three title last season
“There are a lot of sides in the league that we don’t know a lot about. But it’s all about what we do and ultimately the aim is to finish as high as you can.”
Banks has boosted his side’s bowling attack by adding former Pelsall and Hammerwich seamer Dan Wale to the ranks.
“I am more than comfortable with the eleven that I will lead out on Saturday,” added Banks.
“Our overseas from last year, Nathan Crudeli, couldn’t come back but we have pretty much the same squad as last season plus Dan.
“Training and the net sessions have gone as well as you can expect because you can’t really do that much indoors.
“But we have managed to get two or three sessions on out doors and managed to have a knock on a grass wicket this week which was good. Now we are just keen to get going.”
Old Hill start their Premier Division campaign at home to Redditch.
