Durham Cricket League: Ambitious Houghton unveil their first ever overseas player

Houghton will parade their first ever overseas player when Indian Gandhar Bhatawadekar debuts this weekend, while Shashikant Kadam returns for a second season at Littletown and Akshay Jambhekar, who did well at Horden last year, heads the Whiteleas challenge.

And, 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.

Ryhope, fifth in 2015, have brought in 26-year-old left arm spinner Sagar Udeshi from Mumbai, and signed up former Horden captain Adrian Hedley.

Mickey Thorpe has moved to Peterlee, where the highly-regarded Australian Aaron Shellie is back for a second year.