Liam Walker will have just turned 27 when he leads Cheltenham Cricket Club out for their first league game of the new season.

And the new ball bowler has taken on the captaincy at what he believes is the right time as the club look to return to Premier One of the West of England League.

The one-time Chosen Hill School pupil started playing for the club at the age of 10, moved into adult cricket with the 3^rd XI when he was 13 or 14, and made his first-team debut as a 17-year-old.

He has been a regular in the first team for the past seven or eight years and said: “I feel like it is a good time to be taking over as captain.

“The club are moving in the right direction and I can be a part of it. We’ve got a new chairman, new captains of our three Saturday men’s teams, a thriving women’s section and an over subscribed junior section.

“I feel like I’d have regretted it if I hadn’t put my name forward.

”You do most of your captaincy out on the field and as a bowler I’ve always thought about fielding positions, that’s something that has always come quite naturally.

“It might be a slightly bigger challenge when the spinners are on but we’ve got three very experienced spinners in Sam Didcote, Max Shepherd and Josh Breed. They spin the ball as much as anyone and are arguably three of the best in the league.”

Former Gloucestershire all-rounder David Partridge is the club’s new chairman, while Stefan Hunt will captain the 2nds and Matt Baker will be in charge of the 3rds.

It feels like a fresh start and it’s easy to see why Walker, a swing bowler, is looking forward to the new season.

“I think you have to be excited,” he said. “We have had such a long break and the last couple of years have been a bit disappointing. But we’ve worked hard and we’ll enjoy playing.”

Cheltenham’s opening Premier Two Glos/Wilts game is at Thornbury on Saturday 6^th May, a match that will see all-rounder Josh Breed make his return to the club.

The 24-year-old South African spent three years with Cheltenham before playing for Clevedon last summer and Walker is delighted that he is back.

“He was fantastic for us and he loves it at Cheltenham,” Walker said. “It’s like having two top players in one. He brings great balance to the side as a top-order batsman who also bowls leg-spin.”

The return of Breed, who has played List A cricket back home, has obviously added to the feel-good factor around the club.

Cheltenham finished fifth in the 10-strong Glos/Wilts last season and Walker is hoping for much better this time around.

“The ambition is to win promotion and get back into Premier One,” he said. “That will be tough because only one team go up. To win this league you’ve got to be consistent and set such high standards.”

They know how to do it, of course, having won the title back in 2018. Walker was part of that team and will be hoping for more of the same in 2023.