HALESOWEN Cricket Club's preparations for the new season will see them travelling south in search of better weather.

The club have taken 24 players to Somerset and will face pre-season games against Clevedon and Stapleton on Saturday, April 14 and Winterbourne and Bath University a day later.

Having spent eight weeks indoors in preparation, the squad is itching to get outside and although the weather has picked up in recent weeks there remains doubt over the exact start of the Birmingham and District Premier League and Worcester League seasons.

Commenting on the situation, head of cricket Richard Cox said: "The players just need to get out on grass now and get in to the season but we have decided to try to something different this year to get the season off on an exciting note by decamping to the Bristol area where we have some strong links with one or two of our players.

"It will also be a good opportunity for new captain Alexei Kervezee to have a good look at the players in the middle as he takes on his new role and we are grateful to Joe Tromans and Harry Kitchen for piecing the whole trip together for us."

Halesowen have made some shrewd winter signings with the additions of middle order batter Jack Myers from Old Elizabethans, seam bowling all-rounder Charlie Hartley, who has just stepped down from Kent CCC, as well as opener Hamza Ahmed from Old Hill.

Also joining from Old Hill will be Jonty and Sam Preece as well as bowler Rob Horn. This group together with Kervezee and the prolific Ed Kilbee will be supported by the opening bowlers Eddie Rhodes and returning overseas visitor Dylan Ross-Watt to form an exciting set-up for the new season.

Record breaking Wes Griffiths will once again be behind the stumps and Jamie Harris, now injury free, will also be part of a formidable line up.

With promotion gained at the end of last season, the first team will want to cement their place in Division One against teams who will be fighting to stay in the new West Midlands League set-up following the vote for change in recent weeks by the league's 48 clubs.

Speaking on the eve of the season, Kervezee said: "It seems an age since I signed for the club but it was the right thing for me as its allowed a full winter to get to know everyone and now we need to get started and get some cricket under our belts.

"There are some really good players here and I am not surprised to see them get promoted last season.

"It’s a well run club and it’s a motivating place to be when you have success to build on with the addition of new players. I am particularly interested to see how our bowling attack shapes up as it was a strength last season and with Hartley coming in that makes us just that bit more tricky to play against. Whilst the batting with the new additions should be more competitive."