Potters Bar have set themselves one lofty goal for the new Herts Cricket League season - retaining their Premier Division and T20 titles.

The Walk-based club ran off with the double last time out and will enter the new campaign with a remarkably settled side.

The only new recruit is Australian overseas cricketer Esam Rahman, who joins from the prestigious Adelaide University club.

The 21-year-old was included in the ACT squad, the equivalent of a county second team, but the COVID-19 outbreak removed that opportunity.

Rahman replaces countryman Josh Matthews. who has returned to his native Queensland so this gives greater opportunities to those who have stayed loyal when opportunities may have been presented elsewhere.

Luke Chapman, starting his second season as skipper, said: "As a club we had a lot of new players in a short period of time last year and it’s nice to have a settled group ready to go again and try and emulate what we achieved last year.

"The division keeps on improving and there are some fine players coming into the league from overseas.

"This season will be tough and we will have to play even better than we did last year to be in with a shout of matching our achievements of 2022."

He extolled the virtues of the batters in their successes last season and says the balance in the squad is exciting.

He said: "All the batters did unbelievably well last year. Reece Hussain clearly took all the plaudits but all of them enabled our bowlers to work as a team and chip away and win games.

"We have a great mix of young and experienced cricketers and as a group we can’t wait to defend our titles."

Hussain topped the run charts with a Potters Bar ECB league record of 924 runs while James Seward, Steve Gale and Charlie Scott all scored over 500 league runs.

Chapman and fellow spinner Anmol Maheshram both took 31 wickets and Jigar Mehta claimed 29.

And there were fine cameos with both bat and ball from countless others in what was a real team effort.

Bar's options are strengthened further as they still have the options of Middlesex's Thilan Walallawita and Rishi Patel of Leicestershire, whenever their first-class employers allow.

They may have to wait a bit for Patel mind you after he scored his maiden first-class hundred against Yorkshire at Headingley in the opening round of Championship matches.

Bar open their league campaign at home to Hertford on May 6 before making the trip to Watford to face West Herts in week two.

The T20 is scheduled for Saturday with their group semi-final against Hemel Hempstead.

Harpenden or Totteridge Millhillians will wait in the final, all three games being played on the same day at The Walk, with the winners going on to the grand final.

The other T20 matches have Old Owens facing St Albans at Radlett in group B, Welwyn Garden City facing group C hosts Hoddesdon while over at Hertford in group D, North Mymms tackle West Herts.