The North Lancs and Cumbria Cricket League starts again today and the start of the new season has been eagerly awaited, particularly at Carlisle.

First Division champions in 2016, the Edenside club is looking to consolidate in the Premier Division, and illustrating how seriously they are treating life in the top sphere, they have already played two warm-up matches.

Some intense training and net sessions during the winter, and in the build up to the new campaign, have led to two excellent victories.

A five-wicket win at Penrith in the opening warm-up game included an unbeaten 86 from opener Ben Davidson, who eventually completed a match-winning stand with Henry Walker, who contributed an excellent maiden half-century, finishing 54 not out.

That was followed last Saturday with a very concluding warm-up when they beat local rivals Wigton by seven wickets at Edenside.

Wigton were bowled-out for 134 in 39 overs and, in reply, Carlisle reached 135-3 off 30.5 overs. Skipper Marc Brown made 42 and Jordan Whinn, on his debut, was 42 not out.

Those two very good wins have put Carlisle in good heart going into the opening Premier Division game at Keswick.

Secretary Mark Davidson said: “This coming season will provide a tougher challenge for the side as we look to consolidate in the North Lancs and Cumbria Premier Division, and continue to develop this young set of talented cricketers.

“The 1st XI will once again be captained by top-order batter Marc Brown, and we welcome back Alex Blaylock to the club, a talented top-order batsman.

“He has been keeping his eye in, playing midweek cricket, but has not been able to participate on Saturdays because of work commitments.

“Jordan Whinn, an opening bat formerly with Workington, has joined for the new season and had a very good knock n Saturday’s win against Wigton.

“Another who shone in the warm-ups, was young Henry Walker, at 16, an outstanding all-round cricketer and product of the club’s youth system, who will be looking to continue his excellent form from last season.

“Henry is a fine example of what can be achieved with hard work and dedication. He has progressed through the Junior sides to become a first team regular and is a member of the Cumbria Under-17s outfit. The club is looking to move forward at all levels and this year, we have two new captains."

“Our 2nd XI will be led by Olly Bradley in the Eden Valley Premier League, while Christophe Vever takes on the 3rd XI captaincy with Anthony Wilson continuing to lead the club’s Academy side," Davidson added.

“Bryan Laidlow continues to manage the club’s thriving Junior section which has provided a wealth of talent in recent seasons. The club boasts six Junior sides to complement the four senior weekend teams and is indebted to a hard-working committee and coaching staff.”

Last season, Carlisle did not employ a professional but got great service out of overseas amateur Alex Calmy, an Australian who collected an impressive total of wickets – as he ended the season the most successful bowler in the First Division.

This season, however, Carlisle have brought back Justin Greaves as club professional – he was with the club in 2015 as an overseas amateur.

The 23-year-old, from Barbados, is a right-hand bat and a right-arm fast bowler who comes to Cumbria bang in form.

He was Man-of-the-Match for Barbados in their final match of the season against Jamaica, scoring 114 and taking three wickets to give his side a lead of 113 runs in the first innings, and which eventually helped them to an exciting 26-run victory at the Kensington Oval, Bridgetown.

Davidson said: “Since he was last with us, he now has more experience and is an outstanding performer with bat and ball. He is just the player that we need for 2017 and will be involved in all aspects of life at Edenside.”

For the opening game at Keswick, Carlisle will be without Phil Frazer and Alex Raybould, who are both unavailable.

“There’s lots of competition for places this year and that’s going to keep everyone on their toes,” added Davidson.

“It will be a young squad but one we feel is capable of holding its own in the Premier Division.

“We had a five-year plan, of which last season was the first, and the aim will be to consolidate this season in the top flight.

“It looks as though Workington and Furness will be the two leading sides, as reigning champions and runners-up, and both look strong enough to be challenging again."

Workington were unbeaten last year as they completed a remarkable treble of Premier Division, Higson Cup and County Cup. They will have virtually the same squad available, although veteran Simon James has announced his retirement.

Callum Moffat has stood down as captain to concentrate on his batting and wicket-keeping, so opener Rob Lambert, who joined the club from Whitehaven last season, is to lead the side.

Furness had to settle for the runners-up spot last time round but look stronger for 2017.

The club have re-signed prolific Kiwi seamer Seth Rance as their professional once again.

The Wellington-born professional claimed 68 victims at a cost of just eight runs apiece last year, to top the North Lancs League Premier Division bowling charts as Furness finished second behind champions Workington.

Rance has been a key member of the Central Districts side in New Zealand in recent seasons, helping CD Stags to back-to-back Ford Trophy titles in 2014/15 and 2015/16, claiming lots of victims and with a great economy rate.

The 29-year-old Kiwi’s return is a massive boost for a Furness side desperate to overhaul Workington after the west Cumbrians ended the Rams’ fantastic run of seven title successes in eight years by landing the Premier Division crown.

Scott Pearcey’s side have recruited well locally, with star all-rounder Mark Daly returning to his roots after a four-season spell with Lindal Moor.

Daly will be joined by Cumberland Minor Counties batsman Sam Dutton, from Northern League Barrow, and also also bolstering the Furness ranks is promising Lindal youngster Harris Woods.

Carlisle will play their first home game on Monday when they host Lindal Moor in the first round of the County Cup.

It’ a re-run of the race for the First Division title last season and is expected to provide an entertaining spectacle.

Lindal, like Carlisle, have a West Indian professional in Kenroy Peters who has won one Test cap as recently as 2014.

Peters has been playing for the Windward Islands so there should be plenty of inter-island rivalry with Greaves.

The league programme opens tomorrow with the Premier Division games – Cleator v Dalton; Furness v Cockermouth; Keswick v Carlisle; Workington v Wigton.

On Bank Holiday Monday (May 1) six first round ties in the County Cup are due to be played.

Potentially Carlisle could be at home all the way to the final if they are successful.

The games are: A Rockliffe v Furness; B Keswick v Cleator; C Wigton v Haverigg; D Whitehaven v Westgate; E Workington v Cockermouth; F Carlisle v Lindal Moor; G Millom bye; H Penrith bye.

Round Two (Sunday May 21): 1 D v B; 2 G v H; 3 F v C; 4 E v A.

Semi-final (Sunday June 11): A 4 v 2; B 3 v 1.

Final (Sunday July 9).