Lack of strength in depth is a problem

President Ken Gardner believes the Premier Division is as strong as ever, despite the decision of Norton and Stockton to join the Foster's ECB North East Regional Premier League three years ago.

But he admits there is a problem in the game because of a shortage of players which has resulted in standards dropping at lower levels.

"Overall, the league is in very good shape but there is a dearth of players.

"It is difficult to attract them into the game and to keep them interested and as a result skills are not as good as they were 15 years ago," claimed Gardner.

Compared with some leagues, however, the competition is buoyant and an extended sponsorship deal was signed with the Darlington Building Society.

"This will take our relationship up to 14 years. They have stoically supported the league and I am grateful for their involvement," he added.

Champions Guisborough show little change going into the new season but a bonus is the return of Phil Ramage, who missed all last season through injury. It is hoped that Graham Shaw, who scored nearly 1,200 runs last season, will have recovered from an operation to his knee.

It is not surprising that David Towse has been re-appointed professional. He was the league's leading bowler and in taking 56 wickets at 13.5 and in 372 overs he conceded an average of only two runs an over.

Runners-up Blackhall have lost Marc Hopkinson to Ryhope but they too show little alteration from last year's strong squad. Imran Jan, a young West Indian spinner, returns for his second season. Last year he claimed 42 wickets which cost him 17.4 runs each.

Middlesbrough were always in contention last summer but will miss a couple of leading players. Umer Rashid has moved to Saltburn and Alex Roberts has joined Yorkshire Academy, but Mark Foster has switched from Marton.

Tim McIntosh, 22, a left-arm opening bat from Auckland, New Zealand is the new professional and Danny Evans continues as captain.

Darlington have a new professional in Pakistan early-order batsman and off-spinner Hanif-ur-Rehman and Lee Hutton has returned to Feethams from Norton.

David Eckels becomes skipper, taking over from his uncle Peter, at Darlington RA and welcomes the re-appointment of Indian all-rounder Maroof Khan, who was stand-in professional in the later stages of the 1999 season.

Jimmy Middleton is back at Brinkburn Road after a spell with Shildon and Gerard Hall, a big scorer in the second team last season, is available for the senior side.

Expectations are high for 17-year old left-arm spinner Andrew Russell and opening batsman Paul Freary, 19, and Eckels is confident the team will do better than last season's second-bottom finish.

Normanby Hall will also be looking to improve after the signing of Mohamed Zahid, who was with Esh Winning in The Readers Durham County League last summer.

Secretary Norman Willey reports that Zahid has enjoyed a successful time back in Pakistan and that a couple of other players will strengthen the team. Jarvis Ramzan and Graham Scanlon will boost the bowling and batting line-up.

Dulip Samaraweera from Sri Lanka is again with Redcar after scoring 1,074 runs last year. Graham Bowen continues as captain, Neil Russell has come in as coach from Normanby Hall and Tom Irwin, a teenager from Marske, has also joined the club. Ryan Lazenby, though, has moved in the opposite direction.

Besides signing Lazenby, Marske have a new professional in Mohamed Fazil, an opening bowler and early-order batsman who has played in both the Leeds and Ribblesdale Leagues.

Northallerton again turn to Jonathan Barnes for the eighth consecutive year. Last season he claimed 55 wickets and was third from top in the averages but a blow is the loss of Luke Jarvis to Airedale and Wharfedale side Bilton. Ian Gill will again lead the team.

With Steve Chapman re-engaged, Hartlepool boast last season's most successful batsman. He scored an incredible 1,341 runs averaging almost 84. Simon Davies from Tudhoe is the only new arrival for new captain Johnny Cannon.

Umer Rashid, who was with Middlesbrough last year, takes over as coach with Saltburn and his brother, Mauhtashim, continues as professional. Another former Boro player, Amir Ditta, has also moved in.

The club is celebrating the opening of their new three-lane indoor cricket school, changing rooms and scoreboard which cost £675,000.

Thornaby have engaged 19-year old Pakistani Usman Tariq, a leg-spinner and opening batsman, and their chances of an improved season have been enhanced with the decision of former Darlington RA professional Paul Thomas to join Neil Marsden's side.

Richmond have a new captain and professional. Clive Layfield takes over from Andy Mollitt and the pro is Australian all-rounder Michael Ponter.

Much interest will be centred on Wolviston who only joined the league in 1997. After winning the old B Division in their first season, they gained promotion to the Premier Division last year.

"We have done really well in a short space of time but we are not engaging a professional. Instead, we will be building for the future and have organised another junior side which means we will have youngsters playing at under-13, under-15 and under-17 levels," said secretary David Dixon.

"We all know it will be difficult, but we would rather improve facilities than pay for short-term success. The players who have stood us in good stead will be working hard to ensure that we stay in the Premier Division.