LOTS of Saturday and Sunday cricket awaits the island’s senior players when a busy 2007 season gets underway this weekend with the opening fixtures in the two-day league.There are hardly any spare Saturdays in the summer schedule as the eagerly awaited campaign sees matches in four divisions tomorrow and Sunday. St. David’s, Bailey’s Bay, Southampton Rangers and St. George’s are the four teams in the Premier Division and there are two exciting matches to look forward to at St. David’s and Southampton Oval where Eastern Counties rivals St. David’s meet Bay and champions Rangers entertain St. George’s.

In what is a rebuilding phase for local cricket following the World Cup and a resurgence of youth cricket, clubs will likely use the two-day league to groom younger players under the guidance of senior players. With a maximum of four teams in each division (only three in the third division) the two-day league will consist of just three matches and will be concluded by the end of June.

Rangers, despite losing allrounder Lionel Cann back to St. David’s as well as the services of coach Clevie Wade and having a new captain in Kwame Tucker, will still start the season as the team to beat, having had an early boost by winning the Mickey Thompson Super Sevens Tournament last weekend.

Rangers open the defence of their 50-overs title next Sunday when they entertain Flatts and then on June 9 begin the defence of their Belco Cup title when they play Flatts again. Promising youngster Malachi Jones, fresh off World Cup participation, will be looking to further establish himself in the Rangers team.

Southampton’s biggest challenge could come from the likes of St. David’s and Social Club, who have re-signed dashing batsman Glenn Blakeney from Bailey’s Bay. Just a few years ago they were the team that every team used to beat, but under the determined Charlie Marshall that situation has changed and now they are getting the respect they deserve. Qualifying for the Belco Cup for the first time is testament to the progress the team has made in a short time. Reaching the final is well within their reach.

The 2007 season could provide big challenges for former powerhouses Western Stars and Bailey’s Bay who have lost key players while Devonshire Rec. are slowly re-emerging and could be one to watch. They open the defence of their Central Counties title next weekend when they take on Stars in the first round. They winners advance to meet Police in the second round on June 2.

The most popular of the counties, the Eastern Counties, begin play on July 21 when St. David’s welcome Bailey’s Bay to Lord’s for the first round. The second round on August 18 sees the winners playing Cleveland. Flatts provide the opposition in the September 1 final as the season enters its last month with the final two rounds of the 50-overs leagues.

May schedule

May 12-13 (Two-Day League)

Premier Division: St. David’s v Bailey’s Bay; Southampton v St. George’s.

First Division; Leg Trappers v Western Stars; Social Club v Devonshire Rec.

Second Division: PHC v Warwick.

Third Division: Somerset v Som. Bridge.

May 19 (Premier Division 50 overs): Flatts v Under-19s. Central Counties, first round: Devonshire Rec. v Western Stars.

May 20 (Premier Division 50 overs): Cleveland v Under-19s; Somerset v St. George’s; Southampton Rangers v Flatts; St. David’s v Social Club.

May 26-27 (Two-Day League)

Premier Division: St. George’s v St. David’s; Southampton v Bailey’s Bay.

First Division: Western Stars v Social Club; Devonshire Rec. v Leg Trappers.

Second Division: Willow Cuts v Warwick; PHC v Cleveland.

Third Division: Flatts v Somerset.