PREPARATIONS for the 2002 cricket season have already begun following the draw for next summer's Wadworth 6X National Village Knockout Championship.

There could be a clash of two Cotswold Hills League sides in the Leicestershire and Warwi-ckshire group if Kineton can overcome visitors Thorpe Arnold in round two.

Exhall and Wixford, awarded two byes, await a trip to the winners.

In the same county section, Bearley have a bye into the second round when they will entertain Cropston.

A couple more Cotswold Hills League sides, Elmley Castle and Overbury, have also earned an easy route to round two. Elmley then face a visit to Chaddesley Corbett, while it's Cookley at home for Overbury.