LUDLOW Cricket Club will be making their debut this summer in the GB Liners Marches Sunday League.

The Shropshire outfit are lining up against the likes of Monmouth, Brockhampton and Builth Wells in the 12-match competition.

First-team skipper Bryn Simmons says playing competitive matches on Saturdays and Sundays will be beneficial for the club.

“It’s nice for the club to be playing Sunday league cricket and league cricket rather than friendlies will make it more exciting for the players.”

Simmons said players who do not get a chance to play on a Saturday will get a game in the Sunday League. He also said the league would help Ludlow blood younger players.

Simmons is eager for the new season after Ludlow finished runners-up in the Shropshire County Cricket League Premier Division last year.

The club’s indoor nets are on Sundays at Church Stretton Leisure Centre between 10am and 12pm at and will go until the end of March.

And the club’s first pre-season game will be against Lancashire side Radcliffe before the league campaign starts on April 26 at home against Bomere Heath.

Simmons says there are a lot of players at the club who want to play both Saturdays and Sundays and is confident of a good season.

He is confident Ludlow can go one better than last term and win the Shropshire County Cricket League Premier Division title - but admits it won’t be easy.

He said: “Other teams have added to their squads and they should be pushing on, too, but I am confident of a good season. We’ve got a really good base of players”.

Ludlow have made a minor change to the Saturday second team 0 Simon Lane now sharing his captain’s duties with Matthew Hawes.

The club has also entered the Herefordshire Indoor League at Leominster, winning their opening four matches.

Simmons added: “There are a few decent sides in the indoor league but I think we’ll be near the top at the end of the season.”

Meanwhile, Ludlow Cricket Club are starting indoor nets for children 15 years old and under at Moor Park School in Ludlow on February 23 from 10am to 11.30am.

The sessions will run until April 6 and are being run by the club's level two-qualified coach Tim Goldthorp.

For more details about junior cricket, call club secretary Phil Parker on 07974 767518.