THE Readers Durham Cricket League will be the last of the region’s major leagues to shake off the close-season cobwebs when they begin their 2016 programme this weekend, and following yet another busy few months for the administrators an enthralling battle for the honours is in prospect.

Following the near completion of the pyramid working party group’s deliberations over the winter the champions of the DCL’s top division will now have to play-off against the champions of the NTSL at the end of the regular season in September, this for the right to earn a place in the NEPL – although that is dependent on certain conditions being met.

As Esh Winning know only too well, the NEPL minimum grounds and facilities ‘test’ mean that nothing is guaranteed. Last year they had to ‘hand’ the opportunity for promotion to runners-up Mainsforth who then lost to NEPL bottom club South Hetton in a play-off. Developments in the last couple of months have seen South Hetton resign from the NEPL and drop several rungs down the ladder into the NE Durham League, with Mainsforth earning a late call-up to the top table.

Mainsforth would have started as one of the clear favourites to go one better and win the title this year, but the door has now been left open for a number of strong contenders, and it is likely that the battle for the top prize will be the most intense it has been since the League was formed.

The current champions, Esh Winning, have had to get over the disappointment at being denied promotion, and return more determined than ever. Their pedigree is evidenced by the fact that they have won five championships in the last ten seasons, but they have lost their talismanic skipper Dave Lawlor, who was the DCL player of the year in 2015, and his runs will be a big miss.

Lawlor, the most enthusiastic of cricketers, was frustrated more than most by the promotion issue that affected his home club, and moved to the NEPL where he will play for Brandon. However, returning to the club after three years at Brandon is John Carmedy, with Jordan Grossert another capture. And there will be a new overseas interest with first-classer Jibran Khan arriving from Pakistan – the 25-year-old is a left arm spinner and right hand bat.

While Esh are likely to be among the front runners again, there are a number of clubs lining up to challenge them, not least last year’s two promoted sides, Division Two champions Seaham Park and runners-up Burnopfield.

Park were mightily impressive in winning the second tier title, and with Siddharth Chitnis back at that club after being the division’s top run scorer and wicket taker, and John Sample fully fit again after his shoulder problems of 2015, the higher level challenge does not hold any fears for the new boys. One big loss will be Alex Ludlow, who is unavailable due to work commitments, but the club have replaced him with the much travelled and talented Omar Shahid who played at Middlesbrough last year.

Burnopfield moved from the NTSL to the DCL in 2014 as that provided the only route at that time to the NEPL, so the winter’s developments in the pyramid have a touch of irony for them. Nevertheless, their long term plan remains on course, and with Gareth Breese at the helm, and Callum Thorp still in residence, the Durham old-boy ranks have been boosted further by the arrival of Neil Killeen.

Elsewhere in the top flight Dawdon, who finished a distant third last time, have seen key players John Leslie and Richard Ede leave, but on the positive side Dave Lowther (Hetton Lyons) has signed, and Indian leg spinner Bavesh Patel should give skipper Stephen Gale bowling options. There are no changes at Durham City, and with Aussie Jake McCann in charge again they are looking to improve on last year’s fourth place finish.

Crook Town were never in the mix last year, finishing in mid-table, but they expect to be more competitive with promising young Aussie Tearan Gleeson, a leggie who can bat, arriving from the Melbourne production line of Steve Chapman who is also expected to feature regularly. And back at the club is spinner Chris Elmes after a couple of years at Hunwick, while former Ireland U19 batsman Alan O’Prey is expected to feature more regularly. The only departure is youngster Liam Burgess, who has moved to Burnmoor in the NEPL.

Philadelphia’s 2015 experience was much like Crook’s, but the signing of all-rounder Armajeet Singh, an Indian with first-class credentials, and hard hitting batsman Gary Braithwaite from Hylton, has raised expectations as chairman Malcolm Pratt explained: “We welcome two new signings, especially the overseas ‘pro’ as we have been short of a strike bowler. The pair will be great additions to the team and everyone is feeling really positive about the coming season.”

Another pair of teams in last year’s mid-table mix were Horden and Castle Eden. The latter have Richard Ede returning to them, although they have been dealt a late blow by visa problems affecting the arrival of their new overseas man. Meanwhile Horden have made a significant signing in the shape of Lal Kumar. The Pakistani was arguably the NEPL player of the year in 2014 when with Hetton Lyons, and has vast experience of English conditions, particularly the North-east where he has plied his trade successfully for a number of years.

South Hetton’s move to the NEDCL, and Mainsforth’s late elevation to the NEPL, spelled good news for Hylton who received an eleventh hour reprieve from relegation. But after struggling through the last campaign, it looks like being just as tough this time around with Alan Mustard, their leading batter, having moved to Bill Quay, and the arrival of Bangladeshi Suhrawadi Shuvo, who impressed at Esh last season, delayed for several weeks after his call-up for a domestic playing engagement.

In Division Two Scott Nattrass leads the Ushaw Moor challenge and will have a much changed team at his disposal. Gone are Billy Teesdale (Evenwood), Connor Surtees (Langley Park) and Aussie Matt Dyke, but in come Patrick Stephenson (Willington), Lewis Newby and Stephen Parnaby (both Brandon).

For the first time in nearly 30 years Murton have appointed an overseas ‘pro’. South African Phumzile Yiba is a seam bowling all-rounder who has played for Eastern Province and he should be here for the season’s opener. Ben Wicling skippers and he has another new signing, Sam Sanderson (Lanchester), to call upon.

Sagar Udeshi, a left-arm spinner from Mumbai, is another expected later this week, his destination being Ryhope. With Adrian Hedley back for his second spell at the club, and Connor Cheal resuming playing after recovering from the serious knee injury that sidelined him for the whole of 2015, hopes are high.

One departure is Mickey Thorpe who has moved to Peterlee where Aussie Aaron Shellie is back after impressing in 2015. He heads up a veritable invasion of Southern Hemisphere talent. Houghton will parade their first ever overseas when Indian Gandhar Bhatawadekar debuts this weekend, Shashikant Kadam returns for a second season at Littletown and Akshay Jambhekar, who did well at Horden last year, heads the Whiteleas challenge.