Sudbury want to improve on their seventh place from last summer’s first season back in the Gibbs Denley East Anglian Premeir League, since clinching promotion from the Two Counties Championship in 2015.

East Anglian Daily Times: Ben Parker, a new recruit for Sudbury this summer, plays an attacking shot while playing for his former club Hadleigh against Coggeshall. Pictyure; PAGEPIXBen Parker, a new recruit for Sudbury this summer, plays an attacking shot while playing for his former club Hadleigh against Coggeshall. Pictyure; PAGEPIX (Image: Pagepix Ltd 07976 935738)

Darren Batch remains the club captain, although Tom Huggins is actually the first-team skipper this season.

Huggins retired from Minor Counties cricket at the end of last season, after 11 years with Suffolk, standing down as skipper in the process.

Batch said: “We were third at the half-way stage last season, but fell away a lot towards the end.

“We are very ambitious this year. We proved that we could do well at this level, during the first half of last summer, and hopefully we can match that, while also pushing on for the rest of the season.

“We definitely want to be challenging near the top.”

Sudbury’s two major new recruits are Ben Parker (Hadleigh) and Haverhill’s Dan Poole.

Batch added: “Ben (Parker) performed well for Suffolk last year, and he will bat at No. 4 for us.

“It is likely that Adam Mansfield (new Suffolk captain) will open with the experienced Tom Huggins, while I will come in at No. 3 and Ben at No. 4.

“And Dan Poole is an all-rounder who should also strengthen our team.”

The main departure sees opening batsman Nathan Poole leave, to join Preston Nomads CC down in Brighton.

Sudbury begin their EAPL campaign with a home match against Burwell on Saturday.