DIDCOT head into the unknown when they begin their debut season in the top tier of the Cherwell League.

Richard Cook’s men travel to Great Brickhill for their first Division 1 match on Saturday.

Despite losing Elliot Mathews to Aston Rowant, Didcot have bolstered their squad with former Horspath seamer Patrick Foster (pictured) joining from Beaconsfield.

They have also signed Australian opening bowler Nathan Patrick as their overseas player, and captain Cook is looking forward to seeing his side test themselves at a higher level.

He said: “We’re not sure what to expect.

“Obviously we came second last year, we were not really ever up at the top fighting for promotion, but we won our last nine in a row.

“How we will fare, I have absolutely not a clue.

“We will take each game as it comes and we will see how high we can get.”

Abingdon Vale will be looking to further establish themselves in the top-flight after a superb fourth-placed finish last year.

They have been boosted by the arrival of batsmen Charlie Tomlinson and Byron Byrne, but Luke Maslen has left to join Oxford Downs and Will Barker will spend most of the season travelling.

Captain Joe Butcher is excited about the forthcoming campaign.

“We’ll be looking to push on again this season,” he said.

“With a couple of new players joining us, that will strengthen the first and second team squads and it will be exciting to see how much they can contribute.

“I can’t wait for the season to start – it’s going to be an exciting summer ahead.”