With the start of the season just over a week away, I can honestly say I cannot wait to dig my whites out, give them a wash as I think I left them in my bag at the end of last season and get out there playing. The last two months have been full of hype, Lenny and Lol have been like Harry Redknapp on speed and the transfer rumours have been coming faster than Webby in St Albans. Alas half of it has been noise, and we are still waiting on “a couple” of players, but I think we can be very proud of what we have brought in as a club. Without a doubt we are a hell of a lot stronger as club than we were last year and everybody at Potters Bar should be excited.

From a two’s point of view the one’s bringing in a few new players will obviously filter down and strengthen our side. From a personal point of view it is great to see Adam Norman and Tom Coughlan back at the club. I hope for their cricket I don’t get to see them at all on a Saturday afternoon this season, but I think it has been said more than once on this site that for the first time, probably in history, the club is going into a league season with over 11 first team quality players. I am rubbing my hands together and truly believe that competition for places is a healthy thing and can only spur players on, and whoever misses out in the first team will come down to play for me and really try to win their place back.

All this means that on paper, and everything looks good on paper, we probably have the strongest top five or six in the league, with all of them capable of scoring over 400 runs in a season. With Aditya Mehta committed to playing the whole season we will have one of the best batters in the league and who was last season statistically the second best bowler. Having spent another winter working on his guns, under the knowledge he will be residing in his favourite score box this summer, I am sure Gandu will have a great season.

Joining him at the top of the order is likely to be young Tom Pett, who had something of a break through season last year. A top score of 97 and an average just over 26 was a good effort in his first full season as a batter in division 2. If he can stay away from his girlfriend another year of progress beckons. Below the two openers I expect to find at least two people dropping down from the ones, whoever they are I know they will be fully committed and I am sure they will be wanting to cash in and prove Lenny wrong, this can only be great for the 2’s especially the younger players, who get the chance to play with some very good cricketers.

The middle order also looks pretty strong with five or six batsman probably good enough to bat anywhere in the top four. In Dave Pett and Mark Taylor, I pretty sure I know what to expect, Dave was a great asset last year and played with great freedom without the captaincy. Sir George will bring his larger than life frame and personality to the side and I am sure quite a few lusty blows as well. With Charlie Hodge, Matt Evans and Luke Owers it is difficult to say who will follow next.

Charlie is renowned as a deep thinker of the game, but is only around for half the season, I am sure in the time he is with us, he will have a crucial role to play with the bat and also the ball, more on that later. Matt hit the ball off the square six times last year, a personal record and now that he has finally bought a bat that weighs more than one of the Olsen twins, the runs should start to flow.

This season will be a big year for Luke, last year he was our player of the year, and deservedly so. He bowled excellently and was relied on many occasions, with the bat he flattered to deceive and I think he could have scored more runs. This year with the batting we have available, his opportunities will be a little bit more restricted than either himself or I would have liked. However that doesn’t need to be a negative thing and what he will need to do is take his chances when they come. I am sure his bowling will take care of itself and a target of 40 wickets isn’t unrealistic. If he can manage that a first team place is his for the taking.

The tail is extremely short… and despite an average of 37 with the bat last year, I guess I will be batting 11. The signing of Will Van Der Maat from Old Owens is a big result for the club and he has true all round credentials, bating wise he is capable of batting in the top four, but like many above he may have to wait for his chance to come. His opportunities with the ball are likely to be a lot more frequent, the fact that teams have to take the new ball in the second innings should mean he gets a decent bowl in every game.

The new ball rule, in my mind is the right direction to go, it is how all other cricket is played and should stop negative cricket, nobody likes seeing old boy dobbers bowling to youngsters after a team has racked up 200. Early season I expect myself and my sibling to take the new ball, Chaz has the potential to bowl out any side in the league, if he could be consistent with his ability he wouldn’t be playing for me, and that is the goal he has got to set himself. Last year was a disappointing one for me personally, and finding the right time to bowl yourself as captain is quite challenging, again the new ball rule makes this easier and taking the swinging new ball is a challenge I will relish. After the new ball, Mark Taylor will be as reliable as ever, and Will Van Der Maat will be given plenty of chances, whilst Luke Owers and Addy are probably two of the best spinners in the league. Last year we took 150 wickets in 17 games, so we know we have the ability to bowl sides out.

I just looked up at the page and realised I have ranted on quite a bit. I think that sums up my enthusiasm for the season. With younger players such as Dan Brown, James Scott and Chris Boyce waiting in the wings, 2008 promises to be a very exciting season. Last year we exceeded everybody’s expectations, including my own, to finish the highest second team in the county and I was very proud of what we achieved. We did that through being a team and enjoying our cricket together. The basics of that are not going to change, however with competition for places increasing; I hope we can add a competitive edge to every game we play. How far this team can go is difficult to judge and a lot is down to what happens in the team above, however the first six games are crucial, if we are up there at the start of June, anything is possible.