THE 2020 cricket season will swing into action on Saturday.

With a revised mini league format due to delays caused by three months of lockdown restrictions, local cricket will have a different look with clubs playing 10 games between now and the end of the summer.

Few leagues offer as an enticing fixture list as the Wales and West group with Welshpool, Llanidloes, Guilsfield and Llandrinio, Bishop’s Castle, Montgomery IIs and Newtown IIs lining up

A Welshpool Cricket Club spokesman said: “We’re looking forward to a season of local derbies and renewing rivalries against some teams we’ve not played for a few seasons.

“We’re also looking to integrate some of our youth players into senior cricket this season.”

Llanidloes captain Andrew Jones relished the summer following last season’s success.

He said: “We are really looking to build on our promotion that for the remainder of this year.

“We will be the underdogs for the whole league but the lads are a confident bunch and I just hope we can play to our potential and give a good account of ourselves.

“We have a good team spirit building at the moment with a good mix of younger and older players, and with no promotion and relegation to worry about, it’s a great chance just to go out there and enjoy it

“We are in such a better position than a few years ago with a big pool too pick from.

“Trying to squeeze everyone in this season is going to be difficult but a great problem to have.”

Meanwhile Montgomery IIs have snapped up Ryan Blayney from Newtown.

Captain Dave Jones backed Blayney to break into the first team.

He said: “It’s great to have Ryan onboard but he won’t be the only one knocking on the first team door.

“And I wouldn’t be surprised if Lennon Brian also forced his way into the reckoning during the summer.”

Opening batsman and vice captain Matthew Jones join Rob Yewdall, Morgan Matthews and George Corfield among the key players this season while Neil Tuffin, Dave Thomas and Gareth Jones also return to the fold..

Elsewhere Richard Smout will once again lead Newtown IIs with the club boosted by the father and son team of Shaun and Reino De Klerk to their ranks.

Meanwhile Alberbury IIs and Welshpool IIs compete in the Border group.

Alberbury will be led by Ed Roberts while the club’s third team will be captained by James Lee in the Sunday League where youngster Lewis Todd will be hoping to make his mark among other emerging talent.