HALESOWEN are hoping their hard winter work pays off when the pre-season games start.

It’s been a hectic time at Seth Somers Park, both on and off the field, and Droitwich visit in a friendly on Saturday, April 15 with Astwood Bank 24-hours later.

Richard Brooker remains as first team skipper for the club and he’s hoping for some good weather to help with the ground.

He said: “We need the weather with us and a decent start in the pre-season games.

“I am a big believer in continuity and we made good headway last year with the Canterbury Cup and finishing fourth in the league so we need to build on that this season.

“Nothing was ever achieved chopping and changing, we just need to grow a bit this year and be more savvy at key times and who knows what could be achieved – the winter has been interesting and new and we just need to get on grass now.”

Halesowen have retained prolific run scorer Ed Kilbee and wicket taker Eddie Rhodes – and overseas player Dylan Ross-Watt also remains.

With Brooker first team skipper, Wes Griffiths will be in charge of the T20 side as they look to retain the Worcestershire Cricket Board Canterbury Cup.

Work on the ground has been extensive in recent weeks and they have gained approval for a major revamp of the practice facilities with state-of-the-art playing surfaces and extended areas for bowlers.

The AGM also saw the club return another profit for the year.

This week the club complete their Indoor training programme under the watchful eyes of Carl Bust and Richard Cox and outdoor sessions begin in early April.

Following extensive discussion and research with the players in the early part of the winter changes to the training regime have been implemented by Cox.

Alongside the first team there have been changes in personnel with Joe Tromans taking over the second team from a variety of 2016 captains in order to bring stability.

The seconds will be a young outfit playing in the Premier Division of the 2ndXI League and will want to go one step further than their final day nail biter in 2016 which saw them just retain Premier status with a last gap win.

Carl Bust takes over the 3rd XI combining his Youth Coach hat with that of bringing forward the next young players whilst the 4th team (promoted in 2016) will be led by Rob Reeves.

Anyone wishing to join the club for the season should make contact via their website.