PAIGNTON get the season under way in the Tolchards DCL Premier Division with a new captain at the tiller.

Outgoing captain Mark Orchard, who caretakered the role for two years, stepped down at the end of last season and has handed over to Noah Wright.

Paignton finished fourth from bottom in a table of ten last season. Wright’s first target is to get them up the rankings.

“Hopefully we can get off to a good start and set our eyes on the top quarter of the table,” said Wright, who takes the team to Heathcoat first time out.

Paignton used two overseas players in 2023 – Divyaan Saxena and fellow South African Kelly Smuts – something they hope to avoid this term.

Bowling all-rounder Abhay Negi, who plays red and white-ball cricket for Indian side Uttarakhand, has got the gig as the overseas player this time. 

'Abhay comes as an aggressive, top-order batter and right-arm seamer,” said Wright.

Paignton have also signed seamer Mark Cobb – he has played in the Chiltern Premier League and the Warwickshire League – and leg-spinner Arthur Ray.

Ray has switched from Torquay to Paignton and Wright thinks he is one to watch for the future.

“We look forward to seeing Arthur develop over the course of the summer,” said Wright.

Orchard’s legacy to Wright as captain is a relatively young side rebuilt from the remnants of a threadbare squad that he inherited following the departure of numerous senior players.

Although Orchard remains available for selection, he feels his work developing young players is probably done.

“We knew the plan, and how hard it would be, and now I think we're really seeing it pay off,” said Orchard.

“That will only continue over the next few years as our young players continue to grow. 

“The average age is still very young and that's a great position to be in moving forward.”