CORSHAM: CAPTAIN Craig Gibbens knows he is going to be unpopular with some of his team-mates this summer as he bids to lead the club to the top of west country club cricket.

With a formidable squad of players available, Gibbens is going to have to disappoint many with his weekly team selections.

But he will put up with that if it means Corsham winning the Stroud and Swindon West of England Premier League Division One title for the first time.

"We've now got 26 players who have played at first team level and it's going to be impossible to keep them all happy all the time," admitted Gibbens.

Five years of careful planning and building work both on and off the pitch have turned Corsham into Wiltshire's leading club and after a winter of heavy recruitment of new players, there is a growing confidence the Station Road outfit will be major challengers for the title this summer.

Newcomers this season include left-handed opening batsman Richard Greatorex and slow left armer Mike Beel, who have both moved over from Trowbridge. Both are former Wiltshire players and at Corsham will team up again with their former Trowbridge team-mates Paul Marsh and Craig Gibbens.

South African batsman Joe Breet has joined from neighbours Calne and other newcomers include former Oxford University and Dorset Minor Counties opening bowler Toby Sharpe and Shirehampton all-rounder Nick Beedell.

Corsham will also be boosted by the return of prolific opening batsman Dwain Winter, who is back after taking a year's break from cricket, and of Indian seam bowler Ranadeb Bose, who was unable to play last summer because of visa difficulties.

Corsham will also be able to call on the services of Gloucestershire contracted all-rounder Roger Sillence when he is not required by the first class county.

"The new players will bring invaluable experience and competition for places," said Gibbens.

"And all of them have asked to come to Corsham; we haven't gone out to recruit them.

"The aim has always been to make Corsham a club players want to come and play for and that's happening now.

"Corsham is such a good club and we have assembled such a good squad of players I feel under an obligation to make sure we win the title this year."

But Gibbens has warned his players not to expect an easy run to the championship.

Corsham finished third last season and their main challenge is again likely to come from perennial title favourites Bath and Keynsham, last summer's surprise league winners.

Corsham open their campaign tomorrow with an away game against newly promoted Weston-super-Mare.