THE JOLLY'S Drinks Cornwall Cricket League gets underway this weekend with 153 teams competing, writes Michael Weeks.

The ECB Cornwall Premier League again follows the usual format with the 50/50 Premier League Cup competition being played before the Premier League itself, which commences on Saturday 23rd May.

There will be a reduction in the overs per bowler quotas, from 30 to 20 per cent, or 16 to 11 overs in a full 55 over innings.

Elsewhere Division Two will mirror County Division One with 50 over a side matches and bowlers limited to 20 per cent of available overs, plus a new ball will be available for both innings.

In the Divisions Five and Six, the bowler restriction has been increased from 20 to 25 per cent.

Division Six has been reorganised this season into three sections, East, Central and West.

Start times remain unaltered with Premier games beginning 1pm and 12.30pm after 14th August, County One 1.30pm, 1pm after 14th August, and Divisions Two, Three and four at 1.30pm throughout the season and Divisions Five and Six at 2pm throughout the season.

Falmouth Packet:

George Popperwell will be hoping to take a few scalps for Falmouth this season

A new look Falmouth commence with a trip to St Just to take on the Premier League champions and 50/50 Cup holders.

The departure of Adrian Noott sees former skipper Sean Hooper to return from St Austell to captain the side after an eight year absence.

He is joined by Christian Purchase, signed from Grampound Road, Callum Whittaker, formerly of Truro, Cornwall under 17 bowler Jordan Thomas from Beacon and a medium fast seamer from Wimbledon, Gavin Yell.

Off the field David Painter replaces long serving Chairman Mike Toy and the club have created a partnership with Falmouth School and its feeder primary schools to give the schools coaching throughout the summer term and will play at the newly named Hine Downing Oval.

The club has also set up an Academy for the older players, 15+ years, to give them specialist coaching during the season.

Helston are excited about prospects for the new season. They commence with their longest trip, to Launceston on Saturday and are looking to build on their fourth placed finish last season.

Their overseas player Jordan Fulton will not be returning. However South African Werner Potgieter replaces him, a mystery spinner from Port Elizabeth.

They have also been strengthened by a trio of former Troon players have joined during the winter. Batsman Mark Jenkin, all-rounder Gavin Tregenza and bowler Steve Eddy have all signed from Treslothan Road, to bring Premier League experience.

Stuart Pethick is the only absentee from last year, after re-joining Praze. Dan Jenkin will again skipper the side, with Chris Martin taking the vice captaincy role and the gloves.

Falmouth Packet: Jon Udy

Jon Udy in full flow for St Gluvias last season

St Gluvias return to County One, having only been in the higher tier twice in the last 16 seasons, in 2006 and 2007.

Being welcomed at Kernick Road are Australian overseas player Ryan Dallimore while Pakistani Imran Bashir and Indian Prabhakaran Selvaraj are both non seasonal players at the university.

Matt Ambrose and Kyle Winnan, both Constantine, and Dales Knowles, Falmouth, have all departed and Jon Udy will again skipper the side who start at home to Menheniot Looe.

Stithians have dropped down to Division Two and travel to Roskear to play Camborne seconds on day one. They will have a similar line up to last season.

Following their promotion Praze commence at Falmouth seconds. The return of Stuart Pethick from Helston will boost their batting line up.

In Division Three Constantine host Perranarworthal on Saturday. Scott Thompson has returned to Falmouth but in addition to Ambrose and Winnan from St Gluvias, Joe Vanstone has moved from Falmouth to Boulder Parc.

David Angell has returned from Mount Ambrose to Perranarworthal. There have been no player movements at Mullion who host Redruth seconds on Saturday. Wendron have gained Toby Pimlott from Praze and Shane Richards from Troon. They start at home to Leedstown at Underlane.

Porthleven’s opening division four game has been put back 24 hours due to the food festival on Saturday. Penzance seconds are the opening opponents. In addition to the loss of Chris Higgs, Nick Rowe has returned to Praze.

There is the usual full Cornish cricket fixtures guide, and an updated history and records section. Please send a cheque for £7.50 (includes p/p), payable to ' Cornwall Cricket Board Ltd', to: Michael Weeks, CCB Yearbook Editor, 9 Moor Street, Camborne TR14 8HN.