RAMSBOTTOM will have a new skipper at the helm when they launch their Lancashire League campaign against Accrington on Sunday.

Opening batsman Nick Riley has taken over the captaincy from Mark Price after a winter of changes at Acre Bottom.

And Riley is confident the club are more than equipped to spring a few surprises this summer following a poor league campaign 12 months ago.

"I think we'll do alright. We should have a good team this season," said Riley.

"Mark Dentith and Brian Taylor have both come back to the club so we should have strength in depth on the batting front.

"We might be a bit short bowling wise but if we can get the runs on the board then who knows."

Ramsbottom might have won back-to-back Worsley Cups but they have struggled to reproduce that form in the league, where they finished a disappointing 10th last term.

However, the return of the experienced Taylor and Dentith should strengthen the batting line-up.

And they also have a new professional in the shape of Australian Jason Arnberger, who has replaced Michael Clarke.

Arnberger, a right-hand opening batsman, boasts a wealth of experience having played for Victoria for the last seven years.

He averages around 38 in State cricket and once scored 214 against Tasmania for the Bushrangers.

"He looks a good player," said Riley, who scored over 500 runs himself last season.

"He's not like Brad Hodge or Clarkey in terms of he smashes it all around the ground and marmalises attacks.

"He prefers to make the ball work for him and he looks to have a very solid technique, as you'd expect from a player at his level."

The one downside of the winter was the loss of promising bowler Lee Daggett who underlined his potential with a man-of-the-match display in last season's Worsley Cup final.

Daggett is not due to return from University until the middle of June when he will then join Bolton League outfit Tonge who have agreed to pay him £80 a week.