Avon Ready To Take The Big Step-Up

Avon's first team make their debut in the top flight tomorrowafter three successive promotions have brought them National PremierA Division status.

The mixed squad travel to Fenton Manor, in Stoke-on-Trent, for thefirst round of games and play Derbyshire and last year's championsYorkshire tomorrow and Buckinghamshire the following day.

"Team manager Simon Laskey fully expects this to be a season ofconsolidation, with the emphasis on maintaining Premier A status, "said spokesman Nigel Punchard.

"County squads at this level contain many national team playersfrom all the home nations as well as a few from other countries."Meanwhile, Avon's second team went to …