FORMER Barnt Green Cricket Club captain and Zimbabwean one-day international Gus McKay is set to return to the club as its overseas player for the new campaign.

McKay, with the club between 1989 and 1998, is one of five players current captain Lyndon Jones hopes to bring in as the team prepares to mount a challenge for the Birmingham and District Premier crown.

Right arm seam bowler and hard-hitting batsman McKay, who skippered the side in 1996 and 1997, could play from June and will bring vast experience to the club.

Lyndon Jones' side, runners-up in the National Knockout last season, begin this year's campaign against Wellington at Cherry Hill Road on Saturday week.

Coming into the set up with McKay are Chris Liptrot, Ryan Whiley, Richard Wilkinson and James Schofield.

And skipper Jones is enthusiastic for the season ahead.

He said: "It's great that we've completed the signings of these quality players.

"They add quality and depth to an already strong squad. It's rare for any club side to get their strongest 11 out and we're no exception with unavailabilities for various reasons.

"We've got to look at improving our early season league form and another strong showing in the National Knockout would be fantastic."

Liptrot, a right arm fast bowler, is back for his second spell with the club after being allocated by Worcestershire CCC in place of Duncan Catterrall.

Young Welsh prospect Whiley, also a right arm fast bowler, is studying at University College Worcester and is looking to cement a place in the Wales squad alongside club captain Jones.

All rounder Wilkinson is in his first season at Loughborough University and is expected to be among the top order batsmen while Schofield, yet another right arm fast bowler, has been released by Hampshire and has had a spell at Kidderminster.