GRAPPENHALL Cricket Club’s preparation for a season-opening derby against Warrington has already started.

The local rivals, relegated from the top flight and promoted from Division Two respectively, will meet in the Cheshire County League's Division One on Saturday, April 23.

And Grappers, who begin senior winter net sessions on Monday, February 1, have secured the services of an exciting new overseas player for the 2016 season.

Former IPL off-spinning all-rounder Ryan Ninan joins the club, with the Australian swapping his role as a club coach in the Victorian Premier League to play for Grappers and work with both the club’s senior and junior sections.

One of the Broad Lane outfit’s own graduates will captain the first team, with top-order batsman Adam Roylance taking the reins as Grappenhall eye a return to the Premier Division at the first attempt.

Meanwhile, Ian Hayes, a parent of one of the club's junior players, takes over as chairman and a new committee will look to further develop the club’s facilities.

Promoted Warrington will be the first league visitors to test out Grappenhall’s new outfield, which was re-laid at the end of the 2015 season thanks to a Sport England grant.

The second team will be skippered by Iain Wright, who steps down from first-team cricket, and will work with third Xl captain David Seed.

Grappenhall’s second and third teams will be looking to help develop a number of the club’s young players and prepare them for first-Xl cricket in the future.

Those senior players will begin nets a week on Monday, with sessions running at Bridgewater High School’s lower site between 8pm and 9.30pm each week until March.

The club invites any interested players to attend the sessions.

Grappenhall’s junior section continues to thrive and alongside three seniors teams and an over 40s side, the club will have junior teams competing from under sevens to under 18s.