After rounds of email tennis, correspondence aplenty and a whistle stop lesson on Play Cricket, Houghton Main's squads for 2017 are starting to take shape.

Promising youngster Hamzah Younis joins from Division 1 outfit Rockingham Colliery who were unlucky to miss out on a league and cup double in 2016. All-rounder Hamzah bowls left arm seam at a brisk pace, picking up 34 wickets at an average of 17.56 to go with 274 runs at 18.27 with an unbeaten 75 his best score in the 2016 campaign. The addition of Hamzah strengthens the first team's middle order and adds another dimension to the seam bowling attack.

Former HMCC under 17s captain Jake joins from Division 2 Worsbrough Bridge. An up and coming leg spinner and left handed batsman Jake led the under 17 side to cup success, picking up 10 wickets and 291 runs along the way. For Worsbrough's firsts he added 8 wickets and 73 runs. Jake will add much needed depth to the second team while pushing for first team experience.

After missing the 2016 season due to injury, Tanny returns to HMCC to bolster the middle order. Tanny's solid technique and an ability to take games away from teams in the dying overs led to him scoring 467 runs with a strike rate that sat in the high 80s at an average of 29.19 with 6 half centuries in 2015.

Following 3 successful seasons at HMCC, Callum Honeyman has taken the step to move on to Elsecar. Callum's all-round ability led him to score 1084 runs at an average of 27.50, with an unbeaten 108 his best score and collected 80 wickets at an average of 17.44, with a best of 6 for 17, along with 27 catches, we wish Callum all the best.

As with Callum, Steve has decided to move on, returning to Mexborough. Steve collected wickets for fun in the second team while also being a handy contributer in the first eleven, with some even suggesting his fielding efforts could have saved the Titanic from sinking. Steve scored 203 runs across both teams, with more not outs than hot dinners, 17 in 29 innings, and picked up 51 wickets, again we wish Steve well for the future.

The third, and hopefully final leaver is Rob Jones. Rob's current stint at HMCC lasted for the 2015 and 2016 seasons, where he scored 336 runs at an average of 17.68 and took 31 wickets. Rob has taken the decision to "retire" but also transfer to Thurnscoe to ply his trade. We wish Rob well and will remember that his last action in a Houghton Main shirt was deposting a ball onto an unsuspecting roof at Kexborough.

Houghton Main would like to welcome Hamzah and Jake to the club and hope they have a successful 2017 season and beyond, we're glad to have Tanny back in the mix and we wish Callum, Steve and Rob all the best for the future.