Banbury will be looking to continue where they left off when they start their defence of the league crown in their Division 1 match away to Slough on Saturday (May 12).

The champions will field exactly the same eleven which took the field when they wrapped up the title against Basingstoke in the final game of last season.

Neal Radford

There are few new faces at Banbury for the coming campaign, but they have received an unexpected boost, with former England seamer Neal Radford delaying his departure from the club.

Last season, when he led the league's bowling averages with 66 wickets at 10.61, was to have been Radford's swansong at White Post Road.

"Neal obviously feels there is life in the old dog yet," said skipper Neil Megson.

"I think he was encouraged by the fact that he had such a great year, both personally and with the team."

Banbury have signed the town rugby club's South African prop forward Henk Hattingh, and Ashley Pearson, the captain of Stowe School.

Megson is hoping that some of the club's younger players break into the team, with off-spinner Jimmy Phillips already knocking on the door.