Club-by-club guide as NCU players prepare for season’s start

Carrickfergus

Carrickfergus made a real statement of intent for this season with the news they would be bringing in Scottish international batsman George Munsey.

The 27-year-old Munsey scored the second fastest T20I century in 2019 when he blasted 127* against the Netherlands and that signing helps push Carrick into the sphere of major contenders if he is available all summer.

They had already conducted some great early business by acquiring Neil Gill from Muckamore, who will add a bit of firepower with the new ball and is the sort of player that they’ve been crying out for in recent years.

Carrick have been remarkably consistent in the Premier League in recent years, finishing in the top-half for the past four seasons.

But their Twenty20 form has left something to be desired at times so they will be looking to put that right this season.

CIYMS

The only new face that CIYMS will have in their first team is likely David Miller from Muckamore but with the quality that is already at the club, they will enter this season as hot favourites in both competitions.

Coming off their best ever season in 2019 where they picked up four trophies, confidence will be sky high in the Belmont camp and their squad is almost perfectly set-up for the shortest format.

Nigel Jones will be without Irish international Mark Adair for the first few games, but he will slot right in to open the bowling and the top order upon his return, providing a real threat with both bat and ball.

In Jacob Mulder they have arguably the best Twenty20 spinner in the country while James Cameron-Dow is fresh off collecting 47 wickets in 2019 so will be looking to pick up from where he left off last time out.

CSNI

Although it will be disappointing on a personal level for Stuart Thompson that he hasn’t been included in Ireland’s squad for their series in England, his presence in Belfast will be a major benefit for new club CSNI.

The Stormont side moved early to bring in all-rounder Thompson from Eglinton and he will be looking to prove the selectors wrong with some big performances at his new home.

They also signed Ross Adair from Holywood and he showed in his debut on Thursday night in a friendly victory over Carrickfergus just what he can offer and how dangerous he can be.

Marc Ellison is set for another big season at both club and Northern Knights level while Graeme McCarter, who was the best bowler in the league at points last season, holds the key with the ball.

Instonians

Just like CSNI, Instonians will have an Irish international available that they were probably planning to be without for the opening games.

Shane Getkate’s omission was a big shock but it leaves him free to help his club side bounce back from an indifferent season in 2019.

Andrew White will have young batsman Marcus Poskitt at his disposal this season after he joined from Bready, with the 19-year-old another young star that will be looking to impress alongside Oliver Metcalfe and James Hunter.

White, Getkate and Nikolai Smith will provide the experienced base which should allow the next generation to express themselves in a season with limited pressure.

Lisburn

Lisburn pulled off one of the most high-profile signings of the close season when they announced that Irish international Boyd Rankin would be joining the club as they look to bounce back from a disappointing 2019 campaign.

It remains to be seen how much cricket he will get to play but the prospect of him running in at Wallace Park is an exciting one for everyone involved.

Another fast bowler that will be plying his trade in Lisburn is Josh Manley, who signed from Instonians after a debut season in which he had the best average of any bowler in the region.

He has ambitions of playing international cricket in the future and seems like a perfect long-term fit at the club, complementing the array of bowlers already there, such as David Simpson.

North Down

The mystery leading up to the start of this season was where would Paul Stirling be playing his club cricket over the forthcoming campaign...

That was solved when North Down tweeted out a photo of their newest signing last month and it’s hard to overstate just how big of a capture that is for the Comber side.

With Craig Young and Ruhan Pretorius already at the club, Stirling, who is one of the world’s best Twenty20 batsmen, adds yet another dimension and his presence should push North Down into new territory.

Peter Eakin had his best ever season last time out while it will be interesting to see how Aditya Adey gets on at his new home in a campaign where North Down will be expected to challenge.

Waringstown

Waringstown performed poorly in the league last season but it felt their other achievements slipped under the radar at times.

They still reached a fifth consecutive Irish Senior Cup final and were in yet another LVS Twenty20 Cup final, but it is testament to the standards that they have set in recent times that it felt below-par for the group.

Lee Nelson is back in charge, taking over from Greg Thompson, while Morgan Topping has returned to the club.

Sussex youngster Jack Carson, who grew up in the Waringstown system, could have a say in proceedings.

Thompson is one of the most destructive batsmen in the league and if openers James Hall and Adam Dennison get anywhere close to their 2018 form, there will be few better to watch in the NCU.

Woodvale

Woodvale are back in the top-flight for the first time since 2009 and they have made some shrewd acquisitions for their return.

They are giving young players who were on the fringes of other Premier League sides a chance to prove they have what it takes, such as Harry Warke and Jack Burton from Carrickfergus and Kyle Walsh will be stepping up from Section One.

Led by Jamie Gibson, the Ballygomartin Road side have also brought in bowler Pavan Karthik from Muckamore, who was impressive last season and is proven at this level.

It will be tough for them with the standard improving yearly in the top-flight but they are more than capable of springing a couple of surprises in a season where there will be very little pressure.

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