BARNSLEY Woolley Miners start their first ever season out of the top flight in Yorkshire on Saturday and are looking to bounce back at the first attempt.
The Shaw Laners were relegated from the ECB Yorkshire Premier South last season, finishing last after losing their final 11 matches.
They have kept the same captain Boeta Beukes, who has come through the club’s youth system like many of his team-mates, and brought in Pakistani batter Ali Zaryab as their overseas player.
Yorkshire 2nd XI opener Owen Smith has left but they still have Charlie Taylor and Rizwan Ishfaq who are in the Headingley club’s youth system.
Beukes said: “Last season was a tough one to take. It was disappointing how the season ended.
“We know we have the potential to play at that level but we’re a young side, averaging about 22 in age.
“The lads have learned a lot from last year and they need to step up now.
“We don’t want to be outside the top league for long, it’s not where the club deserves to be.
“We will be aiming for promotion this season but we know it is a competitive league with a lot of good and experienced players in it.”
Zaryab has played 57 First Class matches in Pakistan, scoring ten centuries and averaging 41.
Beukes said: “He’s only 27 but he will give us the experience we need, especially with the bat.
“If you look at his stats, it looks like he can bat for a long time and hold an innings together. He can bowl off-spin as well.
“We’re hoping he has a big impact.”
Zaryab is the only first team signing of the off-season.
Beukes said: “No one has wanted to sign for us.
“That’s the way money is in cricket now and we’re not willing to pay that much.
“It’s not like we needed a lot of players, apart from the overseas.
“We will stick with our young players who have a lot of potential.
“You never know, we might be able to sign someone during the season.
“We have some big players coming back from injury.
“Harvey Round hasn’t bowled for three years and he’s left Yorkshire now but he’s looking good in pre-season.
“Our most experienced player Stevie Walters has packed in.”
