NETHERFIELD'S new professional Australian Callum Ferguson arrived this week ahead of the club's opening fixture at home to Barrow in the 3D Sports Northern Cricket League on Saturday.

Ferguson, aged 23, has played 36 first-class fixtures for his state side South Australia and has two first-class centuries.

He is an occasional med-ium-pace bowler at first-class level, but bowls reg-ularly at club level. He plays for the Prospect club in grade cricket, the same club that produced Jeff Vaughan who was Netherfield's professional in 2000.

Netherfield's other recruit is highly-rated spinner Chris Miller, who switches from Kendal and is expected to replace Mark Daley, who has returned to play at Furness.

Scott Clement again captains the side.

KENDAL have a new captain in wicketkeeper/ batsman Ikram Ullah, who takes over from John Trewenneck. Stuart Parkin will be vice-captain.

In-coming professional at Shap Road is all-rounder Ross McMillan, a right-hand bat and medium-fast bowler who plays for the Dolphins (formerly Natal) and replaces Kiwi Graeme Aldridge.

Kendal sit out the opening weekend of the season as it is their bye fixture because of the odd number of clubs.

They are scheduled to start on Saturday week away at Fleetwood, with their first home fixture against Lancaster on Saturday, May 3.

Other news from around the league . Lancaster have captured Test player Pakistani Taufeeq Umar as professional.

A 26-year-old left-handed batsmen and off-break bowler, he has played 25 Tests for Pakistan and replaces Jannisar Khan.

Ryan Nelson also switches from Carnforth to play at Lune Road.

Morecambe's new professional is slow left-arm spinner New Zealander Bruce Martin, who plays alongside Kiwi Test team skipper Daniel Vettori.

St Annes has signed from Pakistan Test player Atiq-uz-Zaman, 33, from Carnforth in place of Ian Austin, who has joined his local club Baxenden in the Ribblesdale League.

Chorley's intended professional Kosela Kulasekara injured himself playing and is out for three months. The club have not named a replacement yet, while spinner Grav Dhar has left the club.

Barrow have a new captain as Daryl Wearing takes over from Ian Allington and new signings included Darren Clark, the Cumberland opening batsman, from Cleator.

Chris Brookshaw takes over as wicket-keeper from Chris D'Leny, who is ruled out for the season with knee-ligament trouble.

At Leyland, veteran David Makinson is captain again and popular Pakistan professional Ammer Khan returns. Tom Reece, former Motors player, joins the club along with Lancs U15 batsman Henry Thompson.