The new season is just 33 days away, and many of us have not yet picked up a bat and/or bowled a ball. Still, by 21st April you can guarantee that we will be as well prepared as any other season for the inevitable rained off against Charlesworth.
I am led to believe that nets are going reasonably well, and the junior nets are certainly well attended, but I know that several players will be missing at the start.
On the plus side, Neil Woolley is rumoured to have returned, fresh for the challenge of Whaley Bridge having tasted the disappointment of Hayfield seconds.
My predictions are for the first team to be promoted as runners up, and the second team to miss out in fourth, though that is before I get to grips with the full extent of availability problems.
In the cup competitions the firsts will triumph in the Bissenden, whilst the seconds will suffer a glorious defeat in the quarter finals.
Negative or realistic for the seconds? You decide, and prove me wrong!