The new cricket season will start on May 10 with a busy schedule drawn up for that weekend featuring Premier and First Division matches, the Bermuda Cricket Board announced yesterday.

Unlike last year when the season kicked off with the Combined Knockout Cup, which saw Premier and First Division sides competing against each other for the season's first silverware, they have opted to proceed with regular league play.

The unavailability of playing grounds has led to the delayed start, but a Board spokesman said yesterday that they remained hopeful that all of the fields will be ready in time.

"If not all, we are hopeful that a large majority will be ready to accommodate the fixture list," said the spokesman.

In Premier Division play on Saturday, May 10, champions Western Stars will be fully stretched when they entertain St. David's at John's Field, while Southampton Rangers, runners-up to Stars last season, are away to St. George's at Lord's.

The two remaining games have Somerset CC entertaining Cleveland at Somerset CC, while PHC host Willow Cuts at White Hill.

The First Division fixtures for May 10 see Police hosting Somerset Bridge, Warwick playing Devonshire Rec. at Southampton Oval, Social Club meeting Bailey's Bay at Devonshire Rec. and Flatts taking on former Commercial League side Leg Trappers at Sea Breeze Oval.

Meanwhile, the May 11 schedule is as follows:

Premier Division: Willow Cuts v Western Stars, Somerset CC; St. David's v St. George's, Lord's; Cleveland v PHC, St. John's; Southampton Rangers v Somerset CC, Southampton Oval.

First Division: Devonshire Rec. v Flatts, Devonshire; Leg Trappers v Police, Police field; Bailey's Bay v Warwick, Sea Breeze Oval; Somerset Bridge v Social Club, White Hill.

The Combined KO Cup has been put back to August 31 and will run through September 27.

Last year's Western Stars emerged as the competition's first winners after defeating Southampton Rangers in the final at Somerset Cricket Club.

This summer will also see a first ever East versus West Challenge all-star match featuring some of the league's elite senior players to be held on August 17.

May 24, 31 and June 28 are the reserved dates for this year's Central Counties series in which Stars are the current cup holders, while July 5 and 12 and August 9 and 23 are the dates set aside for the Western Counties series. Somerset Bridge are the defending champions and hosts for this summer's mid-summer classic.

The dates for this year's ever popular Eastern Counties series are July 19, August 16 with the final to commence on August 30. Bailey's Bay are the current cup holders. This summer's series switches from Sea Breeze Oval to Lord's in St.David's.

The BCB Premier Division and First Division KO Cup competitions get underway on June 7 with the second round slated for August 2 and the final on August 24. St.David's are the current Premier Division KO Cup champions while Devonshire Recreation Club are the First Division champions.

Meanwhile, the former Camel Cup competition, traditionally contested by the previous season's top four finishers among the Premier Division, officially gets underway on June 14 with the final to be held the following day at a venue still to be determined. Former sponsors for the coveted competition, Camel, have now withdrawn from the popular event that still has yet to be renamed. St.David's are the competition's reigning champions.

The annual Champions of Champions competition will take place on Saturday, September 6 and conclude the following day. Stars are the present cup holders. No venue for this summer's event has been decided yet.

July 21 is the first date set aside for Cup Match trials, the other being July 26. This year's annual mid-summer classic will take place at Wellington Oval on July 31 and August 1. Somerset are the current cup holders.

This year's Junior Eastern Junior Counties series will take place on July 12, August 9 and 23, while the Junior Western Counties competition will be held on July 19, August 16 and 30.