OSWALDTWISTLE Immanuel have a new skipper at the helm in Imran Abid.

Long serving captain Gerard Metcalf, who has been in charge for the last eight seasons, stepped down at the end of last season.

"I was encouraged to take over the captaincy," said the 22-year-old. "And it is a new challenge for me and the club.

"We have a young team - although Gerard does bring the average age up a bit! - but we have been together a couple of years now and we hope that the younger players will now step up to the plate and show they have matured and we can spring a few surprises."

Immanuel finished bottom but are hoping for an improved season.

Pro Andy Kerr - who got 584 runs last season with a high score of 80 - returns to the fold and the first job is to see if they can see off champions Great Harwood tomorrow.

"I fancy us," said the new captain. "Harwood put in some great performances last season and hardly gave anyone a chance but they have lost their pro and we are backing ourselves.

"We played two good friendlies last weekend on a tour of Worcester and we have some confidence.

"I think Andy Kerr is one of the best batsmen in the league and he has had a lot of success elsewhere with Greenmount in the Bolton League.

"He has had a season to get used to the wickets and I back him to get somewhere near 1000 runs this season."

"Harwood is a good game to start with," said Immanuel chairman Martin Heyes. "You have to play them at some stage and I think we played them early on the season before last and caught them out so it would be quite nice to upset them. It is a hope anyway."

Immanuel had added batsman and wicketkeeper Nick Payne who has returned after a spell out of the area.

They also have bowler Alamgir Anwar who has signed from Barnoldswick.

"We haven’t lost anyone and have added two so we have strengthened the side," continued the chairman.

"Nick will help to strengthen the batting line up while Alamgir played for us about five or six years ago and he has experience.

"We also have an English professional who can play all season and that is something we took into consideration when we re-signed him.

"Andy will be the first to admit he can do better with the bat and hopefully he will show that this year.

"It is a bit of a new look for us with Gerard stepping down but he is still playing and we obviously think we can finish higher up the table."