Uzi Qureshi takes over as captain as Frocester look to make a speedy return to the top flight in the West of England Premier League.

The club tumbled out of Premier One at the end of last season – a division they won as recently as 2015 – and are determined to bounce back at the first attempt.

Qureshi, who is 26, takes over as skipper from Nick Trainor, the former Gloucestershire batsman who has played such a big part in so much of Frocester’s success in recent times.

Trainor, now 43, will be first-team manager this season but will still be available to put on the pads as and when is needed.

“It’s a bit of a fresh start,” said club secretary Eric Woodmason, who has been with the club for 44 years. “Uzi was the obvious choice to take over as captain.

“He’s a very talented cricketer, he’s our best batsman, he’s outstanding, and he’s a really nice, articulate bloke. He hasn’t got a massive amount of captaincy experience but he’s the one with the cricket knowledge to take us forward.”

And by take us forward, Woodmason means winning Gloucestershire/Wiltshire Premier Two and with it a place at the top table of cricket in the region.

“Promotion is the aim, that’s our intention,” confirmed Woodmason. “It’s a big ambition to get back to Premier One.”

The flagship team’s relegation at the end of the last campaign was not just tough for them because it also meant that the club’s 2nd XI must continue to play in the Gloucestershire Division even though they won the title last season.

League rules prevent two teams from the same club playing in the same division and Woodmason added: “It’s pretty crucial that the 1st XI go back up because if they don’t and the 2nds win their league again, which they’ve got every chance of doing, they still won’t get promoted.”

Mind you, Woodmason is confident that the 1st XI will be going up this season.

“I would say that we have a very good chance,” he said. “With the strength of our squad, we should win several games comfortably, last season was an aberration.”

As well as Qureshi, Frocester can call on experienced left-arm seamer Chris Liddle when his Gloucestershire commitments allow, while all-rounder Andy Solomons is also returning from Sri Lanka for another season.

“Chris Liddle is a very good cricketer and he’s also a good batsman at this level,” continued Woodmason, “and Andy Solomons is a top, top Premier One cricketer.

“He bowls quick and hits the ball miles. I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets a double century in one of the games at this level.

“If he gets going he’ll tear it up, especially on the smaller grounds.

“With Andy and Chris opening the bowling and with the battling line-up we’ve got, it all looks good. We’ve got a very strong squad.”

The 2nds will also be strengthened by the arrival of 22-year-old batsman Charles Aitken, from Melbourne, Australia.

While Solomons will obviously claim the overseas player spot in the 1st XI, Woodmason said this season will still be a good challenge for Aitken.

“There are some good clubs in the Gloucestershire Division,” he said.