2003 CRICKET PREVIEW (Marlborough/Malmesbury/Box): MALMESBURY will be boosted by the return of popular Indian all-rounder BK Majumder as they begin their bid to bounce back into Division One of the Gloucester and Wiltshire League at the first attempt.

They were relegated last season along with Apperley following a crushing home defeat at the hands of Devizes on the final day of the campaign.

Their season was hampered by a string of poor batting displays with the influential Majumder, so successful in 2001, unable to travel due to visa problems in Calcutta.

But he is due to return in time for Malmesbury's opening game of the season at Gloucester City on Saturday. Skipper Richard Mosdell believes his presence will lift the side.

Said Mosdell: "We missed BK last year, but he's on his way back. He normally opens the bowling for us and bats at around number four. A lack of runs cost us last year. Fielding and bowling we were very good, but never had enough runs to play with.

"We can't have another year like that. None of the batsmen really got going and it was very disappointing."

One shining light last season was the form of teenage opener Chris Hurst, but he will be missing from the side until the end of May while he completes first year studies at Oxford University.

Mosdell has targeted a return to Division One at the first attempt, but realises his side are taking a step into the unknown. He said: "I'm confident about this season and all the boys are. We are probably a bigger side than the league we are playing in as we have had a long history of playing at a good standard of cricket.

"We have lost a few players over the years, but there are youngsters coming through now and that will help, if some of the older ones like myself hang on.

"The big difference for us this year is we don't know what we are up against, with the exception of Apperley."

Marlborough have added a tough of experience to their squad ahead of their second season in Division Two.

The 2001 Wiltshire League champions finished seventh last season with a youthful side and have snapped up middle-order batsman Frank Whiting from Warminster and Ramsbury wicketkeeper-batsman Pete Osman.

But Marlborough will have to do without Australian all-rounder Matt Kimble, the source of so many runs and wickets over the past two seasons.

Skipper Tom Norris said: "Matt has gone back to Sydney. He will be a massive loss, but has got to start a life in Australia and think about a career.

"It might actually work for us in a way, because now everyone else will have to stand up and take responsibility for things on the field."

Marlborough, who have also managed to retain the services of highly-rated off-spinner Ben Head, begin their season at Marshfield on Saturday. Norris believes his side must look towards another summer of consolidation.

He said: "We won five of our first seven last season but were disappointed with the way we finished. We had a young side and didn't have the experience to see it through.

"The new signings might help us in that department this year. It would be unrealistic to say we'll go up, but we're looking forward to the season."

Box are looking forward to meeting old friends and making some new ones.

After several years of just missing out on promotion, Box finally won the Wiltshire League Division One title last summer. "After several years of being the bridesmaids, it was nice to win the Wiltshire League at last," said club chairman John Tooth.

"With the exception of Westinghouse, we were the only club who were involved in the Wiltshire League set-up at its inception still playing in it. All the others have moved upwards.

"It's going to be a challenge this season, but one we are looking forward to. It will be good to play the likes of Marlbrough and Hinton again and there are several other teams in the league we have never played before."

All the title-winning team will be available this summer when Gerald Hayward will be the first team captain.

Much again will depend on the form of all-rounder Richard Foley, whose runs and wickets were major factors in the team's success last summer.

Box will also be looking for another major contribution from batsman Andrew Davis, 17, whohas been a regular in the first team for the past two seasons. Neil Pettit and Hayward are the other mainline batsmen.

The bowling duties are likely to shared between David Crawford and Foley, with Hayward and Tooth in support. A bonusis that slow left armer Richard Hulbert, who played only half a season last summer, should be available more regularly.

The club have renovated and extended their pavilion during the winter. It should be available within a few weeks.

The first game in the league is at home to Redmarley on Saturday.