THE new cricket season starts on Saturday and the matches in the ECB Cheshire County League First Division come no bigger than the local derby between Timperley and recently-relegated Urmston at the Urmston.

There have been many changes for both sides during the close-season with spinner Ian Grindley coming out of retirement while their new overseas player is New Zealand left hand opener Dan Cooper, opening bowler Jack White and Asif Mohammed joins from Baxenden.

Meanwhile, officials at Urmston believe they are fielding a stronger side this season, with no fewer than four county players who have played together for Lancashire since 11 years of age.

These include a new wicketkeeper batsman Brad Yates, Lancashire Academy player Callum Turner, Derbyshire Academy player Callum Parkinson and his brother Matthew Parkinson, who has signed a professional contract with Lancashire.

They will also benefit from a fully-fit Sumit Panda and their new overseas from New Zealand, 6ft 5in fast bowler and batsman, Joseph O'Connor.

There will be plenty of spice to the occasion as skipper Chris Grindley and wicketkeeper Mike Ness used to play at the UCG.

Timperley chairman Adam Horan said: "Urmston are a strong club with some good young players and proven performers, they will be looking to bounce back to the premier league immediately and will undoubtedly be in the mix at the end of the year.

"It's a nice place to play and a great wicket so we should get a good game in. So often the first game can have an influence on the direction of the season so we are looking to be aggressive.

"Having consolidated out position in Division One last year we want to push on and are looking for promotion.

"We have recruited well if a little blindly so it will be interesting to see how the new guys get on.

"If we can gel the team quickly we should be in with a good chance."

Urmston will be without last season's leading wicket-taker Matt Parkinson as he is currently in Perth with England Under-19s squad as they take on Australia in a five match one-day series.

The UCG side are led by ex-Stretford CC stalwart Chris Turner and he is raring to go.

He said: "We have invested in the squad and want to hit the ground running.

"We are going to focus on our game and what we do best and not other teams which we did in the past.

"I think we are capable of beating anybody on our day and promotion is our goal.

"If we do go up against then I think our squad can stabilise their position in the league above."

The match starts at 1pm at the UCG.