YORK Cricket Club's opening Yorkshire ECB Premier League fixture at Clifton Park tomorrow sees them entertain Harrogate who pipped the Clifton Parkers for the title last year.
In 2005, with four matches to go, York effectively had two matches in hand but a poor finish saw them having to settle for the runners-up spot after having lifted the championship trophy the previous season.
Led again by Marcus Wood, York expect to have a similar squad to last season with the notable exception of Ripon-based Simon Mason, who has joined Harrogate, thus adding a touch of spice to the encounter.
A compensating boost comes from the return from Australia of Steve Piercy, who offers support bowling and excellent catching to his run-scoring potential.
Bowlers Dan Broadbent and Duncan Snell have benefited from an Australian season in Melbourne and the overseas player is batsman Daniel Wilson from Brisbane where he has had a prolific summer.
With Rob Flack restored to fitness and Nick Thornicroft back with Yorkshire from Essex, Wood will have a range of bowling at his command.
Another interesting feature of the attack will be Tom Bartram, hitherto primarily regarded as a batting all- rounder. However, this week he played for Durham University at the Oval against Surrey and claimed both openers in a lengthy spell.
North Yorkshire's other YL side, Scarborough, start their campaign at Sheffield Collegiate.
York (v Harrogate): Wood, Piercy, Kay, Broadbent, Wilson, Snell, Bartram, Flack, Bell, Thornicroft, Durham.
York Cricket Club fixtures 2006
April
22 Sat Harrogate H
29 Sat Hull
30 Sun National KO 1 Bye.
May
1 Mon Castleford 1 H
3 Wed St Peters School A
6 Sat Doncaster A
13 Sat Rotherham H
14 Sun Hull YPI (NK0 rd 2) H
20 Sat Sheffield Collegiate A
21 Sun Rotherham (Lge Cup rd 1) H
27 Sat Sheffield Utd H
28 Sun (NKO rd 3) H
29 Mon Driffield H
June
3 Sat Yorkshire Academy A
10 Sat Cleethorpes H
17 Sat Appleby Frodingham A
18 Sun (NKO rd 4) A
24 Sat Barnsley H
25 Sun (Lgu Cup rd 2) H
July
1 Sat Scarborough H
2 Sun (NKO rd 5) H
8 Sat Harrogate A
15 Sat Hull H
16 Sun Castleford A
22 Sat Doncaster H
23 Sun (League Cup semi) A
29 Sat Rotherham A
August
5 Sat Sheffield Collegiate H
6 Sun (M & B Final )H
12 Sat Sheffield Utd A
13 Sun Driffield A
19 Sat Yorkshire Academy H
20 Sun (Lge Cup final) A
26 Sat Cleethorpes A
28 Mon Appleby Frodingham H
September
2 Sat Barnsley A
9 Sat Scarborough A
16 Sat No game
Updated: 10:12 Friday, April 21, 2006
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