There will be more overseas players in the Hunters Estate Agent York And District Senior Cricket League than in any previous season with 36 of the 50 member clubs registering non-English players.

Some of the overseas brigade have known pedigrees but the majority are unknown quantities and therefore forecasting the fortunes of clubs is a hazardous. However, most squads will be similar to last year as there has been only a trickle of transfer activity.

The league, which has expanded to seven divisions for the coming season, starts on Saturday although there will be no games in the two lower divisions which have fewer fixtures.

Champions Dunnington will begin as favourites for the title. Collis King has taken over from Simon Kellett as skipper of the experienced squad, although the former Yorkshire player will continue to play a significant role.

King is hopeful his former West Indian team-mate Alvin Kallicharran will have recovered from an illness during the winter to join his star-studded line-up.

Paceman Joseph Grant has landed a county contract with Essex but may be available occasionally as a contracted player.

His strike bowling replacement is Australian Simon Cook, who had two Test matches before a back injury ruled out further appearances for the baggy caps.

Clifton Alliance have had a string of top Australian players with Ben Higgins, Joel Southam and Darren Reeves gaining the Tony Frith Award for the Best Overseas Player in the past three years.

Consequently Travis Borlace has some task in matching the achievements of his predecessors. He is a right arm paceman who has played 'A' grade cricket for Tea Tree Gully and earned recognition when picked for the Australian Under 19 team in 1998.

Spinner John Hunter took more than 50 wickets for Alliance last year and he, James Postill and Richard Musgrave will make up the attack. Dave Taylor, with 700-plus runs, was the leading batsman in a team where all players regularly contribute runs.

Along with the Clifton side, Easingwold are most likely to challenge Dunnington and will be looking for inspiration from skipper Martin Robinson, whose batting, bowling and leadership were missing for the early part of last season due to a skiing injury.

A fully fit Robinson will have Gregg Everest in his side and the Aussie is well known in the league having previously had spells with Dunnington and Stamford Bridge where he hit three tons in 1997.

It is difficult to separate the remaining nine teams in the premier division as all are of similar strength and it may be the overseas players who decide who is relegated.

Beverley won division one last year with a minimal contribution from their overseas player and will be looking to Indian opening batsman Gurindar Singh to give added strength and enable them to gain a foothold in the top grade.

Paul Mosey, who started as a junior at Heworth, has returned to Elm Park Way from Stillington and will take over the captaincy.

His overseas player is Shahid Khan, a 20-year-old medium quick bowler who has appeared in first class cricket in Pakistan.

His presence, together with Mike Brooke and Ian Nottingham, who have moved from Great Horton, should help Heworth occupy a mid-table position.

Osbaldwick and Pickering narrowly avoided relegation last year and will be satisfied to achieve a similar objective this term.

Osbaldwick will have Australian Damian Aston in their line-up, while Pickering's overseas man is 18-year-old fast bowler Joel Crosswell, another of the 20 Aussies involved in the coming campaign.

Pickering have, however, lost the services of leading batsman Brian Leckenby, who has opted to move to Duncombe Park and his 851 runs in 2001 will be hard to replace.

Pikes' incomers include Charlie Marwood from Kirkbymoorside and Phil Marwood from Thirsk.

There are rumours from the Thirsk area that Barry Petty may be a doubtful starter and, if so, the Northerners may struggle as, in addition to being the league's leading wicket-taker in each of the past six seasons, Petty has also been the most economical bowler and has sent down an extraordinary number of overs.

All cricket lovers will be hoping to see him line up when Thirsk meet Woodhouse Grange on the opening day of the season.

The absence of Aussie Lincoln McCrae means Thirsk have some problems in the wicket-keeping area. They will be hoping Keogan Luiters from Sydney can produce some match-winning displays to see them safely through the season.

Last season's mid-table sides, Acomb, Sheriff Hutton Bridge and Woodhouse Grange, will be hoping for similar results.

Acomb will be hoping Sri Lankan Shanuka Dissanayake is as successful as clubman Duminda Perera.

He is a right-hand batsman and slow left-arm bowler who may well pose problems for premier division batsmen.

Sheriff Hutton Bridge have opted for South African pace bowler Harrion Muller, otherwise their squad is similar to last term.

Woodhouse Grange, who finished fourth last year, may mount a serious challenge to the top three as overseas man Kashif Raza has made one appearance for Pakistan in a one-day international.

He is a medium to quick pace bowler and batsman and will be joined at the Grange by Neil Jackson, who has joined the Sutton on Derwent side from Ripon after moving house.

The top flight is completed by Pocklington, division one runners-up last term. They will be looking to 20-year-old Nathan Schultz from Sydney to get results with his leg spin but may find it hard to step up a division.

Updated: 12:20 Monday, April 22, 2002