Highland, title contenders a year ago, start their season away at Buckie tomorrow. They last won the title in 2010 and will be keen to end a six-year dominance by teams from Moray.


Highland won three of the six trophies available last season.
They have been lifted by the return of Regan Francis and Ryan Main for the new campaign.

For skipper Rob Nixon, getting a consistent team out could see them challenge for the league title.

“We’re still relying on Jon Crabtree, Euan Smith and Dave Wolton in the batting line-up. We’ve managed to get Steve Laidler in, who played for Lossiemouth a few years back and is a very good wicket-keeper batsman.

“The top seven looks very good and if we can get the boys out regularly, we’ll have a very good team.”

Selection problems hamper Nixon this weekend with Main, Adnan Shah, John Paul and Richard Thomson unavailable. Thomson will be missing for the first few weekends due to the lambing season, while several of the squad are in the army and on guard duty.

“It’s a big honour for me to be captain this season in our 60th year,” added Nixon. “We’ve got the backing of Scotbark and Cobbs to do work on the wicket, so hopefully we’ll see the benefit of that.”

Three out of the six available titles made their way to Fraser Park a year ago, with Highland winning the Senior Cup, Reserve Cup and Reserve T20. Shah picked up two man-of-the-match awards in both the Senior GB and Reserve Cup finals.

In the Reserve League on Sunday both Counties and Nairn County are at home, against Fochabers and Highland respectively.