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PASTURES NEW: All-rounder Lyndon Jones has made the switch from Barnt Green to Bromsgrove.

TURNING draws into wins will be the aim for Barnt Green, as they aim to improve on last summer's seventh place in the Birmingham and District Premier League.

Former Warwickshire star Dougie Brown has taken over the captaincy for the Cherry Hill Road side, replacing Simon Froggatt, who will continue to play for the club when he recovers from injury.

Green drew half of their games last season, as their title challenge faded.

The most high profile of their new additions is James Major, son of former Prime Minister John Major.

He will be joined by former Northamptonshire all-rounder Paul Coverdale and left-handed batsmen Paul Bedworth, who returns to the club following a spell with Water Orton.

Green have also secured the services of Worcestershire seamer Gareth Andrew.

However, experienced all-rounder Lyndon Jones has left the club to join Bromsgrove, and Scotland international Dewald Nell has also departed.

Green have opted not to bring in an overseas player.

Brown has urged his side to improve on what he says was a disappointing season in 2007.

He said: "We are backing ourselves to have a really good season and get towards the top of the league.

"We need to put behind is the disappointment of last season.

"We lost a few games by a couple of runs and good teams don't lose those games.

"We have got to make sure we can find that winning habbit.

"When you are playing well as a team you can find that extra two per cent."

Barnt Green kick off their season on Saturday when they host Shifnal.

Bromsgrove are hoping their rapid development off the field can translate into on-field success in Birmingham League Division One.

The Boars recently opened a junior cricket academy and received numerous awards for their youth development programmes.

The arrival of Lyndon Jones from Barnt Green should boost their chances with both bat and ball, while Atif Ali has joined to boost the bowling attack.

Overseas leg spinner Dilawar Khan Orakzai has also returned to St Godwalds Park from Pakistan for another season.

But it is runs that will be the key for Bromsgrove this season.

Captain Mark Evenson said: "We didn't bat for 55 overs often enough last year.

"Hopefully people like Lyndon Jones will add that value to the middle order.

"The club is moving forward with the Junior Boars and a great set of young players coming through, and also success off the field with various events going on.

"We are looking to kick on and if we can finish anywhere above seventh, which is where we got to last time, it will be a good season.

"There is a good ethos here so hopefully we can keep it going."

After a poor start, the Boars rallied in the second half of the last campaign to drag themselves away from the trap door and secure a mid-table finish.

Evenson aknowledges that a good start will be key if they are to be successful.

He added: "By hook or by crook, in previous seasons we seem to have been slow getting out of the blocks.

"We are very much a results team. We either win or we lose and what makes a good side is you hold on when the chips are down."

Bromsgrove beat Ombersley in their final warm-up game on Saturday.

The Boars amassed 241 from their 45 overs with Jayden Levitt top scoring with 56.

Lyndon Jones took 5-6 as the visitors were bowled out for 112.

Bromsgrove travel to Dorridge this Saturday for their first league game.

Worcesterhire CCC seconds face the MCC's young cricketers at St Godwalds Park in a three-day match starting today (Wednesday).

There is no entrance fee, and play starts at 11am each day.

5:11pm Tuesday 29th April 2008

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