A PIVOTAL season of cricket beckons when Worcestershire League sides start competitive action on Saturday.

The Birmingham League campaign begins the following weekend and sees clubs scrapping for places in a major revamp involving just two first XI divisions for 2019.

With teams dropping back to local level as a result for next year, county league cricket outfits will be striving to protect their status in divisions during 2018.

Relegated Worcester Nomads entertain Feckenham and last season’s fourth-from-bottom team Colwall host Bewdley in Division One on Saturday (both 1pm).

Teams finishing outside the top four are potentially under threat of going down.

Bromyard head to Worcester’s Old Vigornians in Division Two.

Division Three pits promoted Hanley Castle and Upton against Avoncroft, Harborne thirds versus Eastnor, who have dropped two levels, and Malvern at home to Five Ways Old Edwardians.

West Malvern go to Tenbury in Division Four.

Matches will depend on clubs having dried up their grounds in time after the wet spring.

Barnards Green visit Leamington Spa in their Birmingham League Division One opener on Saturday, April 28.