Readers Durham County League

CHAMPIONS Kimblesworth have signed Australian Travis King, who played for Sacriston last year, as pro and Barry Strong will play again after injury. Bryan Potts has, however, gone to King’s former club.

Runners-up Esh Winning have a new captain in John Carmedy and he will have a youthful overseas pro under his wing. Pakistani Yasim Murtaza, 18, is a left-handed all-rounder who already has two seasons of first-class cricket on his CV. Chris Gardiner, a top-order batsman, has moved to the area from Birmingham.

Shildon Railway have recruited Sean Bradbury, who captained South Hetton in the DSL last year, and Indian opener Sahil Kukreja should be joining him shortly.

Former Esh opening bowler Eddie Watson has joined Crook, who hope Arsalan Mir will return.

Chris Moore is the new skipper at ambitious Willington.

Kiwi Sam Wood is back for another season, while Mumtaz Habib, a pacy opening bowler, and spinner Michael Thorpe are quality acquisitions.

Neil Davies and Darren Brown have retired.

West Indian batsman Shawn Findlay has joined Tudhoe – he has nine ODI appearances to his credit and can bowl.

One of the longest serving captains, Stephen Hancock, continues to lead Ushaw Moor, who will have Usman Arshad back to torment the opposition with bat and ball.

The only loss has been Scott Hobson to Kimblesworth.

Langley Park have an unchanged squad, Hylton welcome back Chris Allan from Boldon, and Mainsforth are in negotiations for a new pro but have already signed Matt Blackman, a former county second-team player.

For Evenwood, the loss of Billy Teesdale and Ryan Nicholson is a blow but a new pro, Sri Lankan left-handed all-rounder Pramuka Sudesh Liyanage, has first-class pedigree.

James Alderson has returned from Darlington, and they have signed Michael Tinkler from Brandon, with Darren Wallace returning.

Carl McGregor returns to Etherley as skipper, and brings Scott Oldfield with him from Bishop Auckland, and they also have a 19-yearold Aussie called Nick Jensen, a left-arm spinner and opening bat.

Brandon also have a leftarmer from Australia, although Nick Armstrong bowls medium pace and is a middle-order batsman.

Former junior Anthony Carse has returned from Ushaw Moor, and the injuryfree availability of Dave Christie has also lifted spirits.