THIS year's Oxford Times Cherwell Cricket League looks wide open with all ten sides in Division 1 optimistic about their chances.

Aston Rowant will be looking to make a swift return to the Home Counties Premier League following last season's relegation.

All-rounder Andrew Hicks, 21, has been recruited from Queensland, where he played in the state's under-19 side, while Simon Bird has made the rather shorter journey from High Wycombe.

New skipper Paul Humphrey has also managed to persuade Simon Tremlin out of semi-retirement to keep wicket.

Rowant open up at home to Buckingham Town, who narrowly avoided the drop last year.

Another Queenslander to feature this summer will be Dan Maroske, a quick left-armer who has joined Challow & Childrey.

The south Oxfordshire club will be looking to build on last year's third place with the help of three players returning to the club.

Julian Penney is back after missing last summer with a knee injury, Steve Berry returns from Cheltenham and Ian Demain rejoins from Division 4 outfit Long Marston.

Challow, who are at home to last year's runners-up Milton Keynes this weekend, will be without David Slade, who is one seven players to join Oxford's ever-increasing squad.

Oxford 2nd have high hopes of challenging for the title as Slade has been joined at his new club by Jack Brooks, Joe Porter, Todd Hutchinson, Alex Morgan, Tom Crouch and Simon Hole.

Some of the new faces will no doubt feature in the first team, but those who miss out will line up tomorrow against Banbury 2nd, who will be looking to consolidate on last year's promotion while hoping to finish above town rivals Banbury Twenty.

Twenty welcome Australian all-rounder Andrew Grubich to their side as they try to get off to a better start than they managed in 2005.

Grubich has played premier grade cricket in Melbourne and is expected to bat in the top four and open the bowling.

But Twenty will have to manage without Richard Hawkins, who is away all summer working on a construction project in Canada.

Tomorrow they face newly-promoted Oxford Downs, who have quickie Goolam Bhayat back from South Africa.

Shipton-under-Wychwood, who lost their last warm-up game at Cumnor, travel to Dinton.