The 1997 cricket season begins this weekend with St. David's the first in a list of teams aiming to upstage Open and Overs champions Western Stars.

St. David's, who were relegated to the First Division last season in the Overs competition, have a tough start as they try to hold onto their place in the Open Championship.

They couldn't have asked for a tougher start to the campaign than a meeting against last season's top team, and to add intrigue to the contest they will be coming up against one of their former players in pace bowler Dale Fox.

Fox was one of several players who transferred to a new club during the pre-season and the bowler whom many rate as the fastest in local cricket, will be fired up when he takes on his former team-mates.

Fox will boost a Stars attack that already includes brothers Gary and Allan Brangman and captain Arnold Manders.

The absence of players like Fox, the retired Allen Richardson and the uncertainty over James Pace means that St. David's will be putting faith in their youngsters. Shea Pitcher is the captain and Phillip Pitcher the vice captain and also in the squad this weekend are teenagers Chris Foggo, a promising batsman, and medium pacer Jonathan Santucci.

Lionel Cann has not yet returned to Scotland and is in the team for the Stars match. He will provide valuable experience in both the batting and bowling departments.

Bailey's Bay and St. George's, probably the biggest threats to Stars, begin their programme against last season's two promoted teams. Bay travel to White Hill Field to meet promoted PHC while St. George's entertain Southampton Rangers, the First Division champions in both the Overs and Open leagues last summer.

Bay, like Stars, are strong in both batting and bowling with the bulk of last season's players returning. Despite the return of neighbours Hamilton Parish to the league, the only transfer from Bay was Phillip Burgess, while Desmond Crockwell comes back from St. David's. Charlie Marshall takes over the captaincy from Ricky Hill.

St. George's have made a couple of changes but still look strong in both departments as Clay Smith returns as captain for a second season. His top priority, no doubt, will be regaining the Cup Match trophy he lost last season, but there will be plenty of cricket beforehand for the former league champions who picked up the Knockout Cup last season.

Jason Lewis joins St. George's from Western Stars while Kenny Phillip and Troy Harford are back to boost the seam attack. Along with Herbie Bascome and Gregg Foggo, who made his Cup Match debut last season, there will be plenty of competition for bowling places, with Eugene Foggo and David Adams again expected to be the main spinners.

Missing is Dexter Smith who has joined Devonshire Rec. but back out again are Lewis Foggo and Jason Anderson. Not expected to start the season are veterans Wendell Smith and Clevie Wade. Olin Jones will lead Rangers where Janeiro Tucker carries a huge responsibility in both the batting and bowling departments.

Willow Cuts and Police battle at Somerset and both will be looking for a good start to the season. Cuts have long been regarded as the top team in the west, now the pressure is on them to prove they are good enough to challenge the likes of Stars and Bay for the title. Last season they finished in the top four in the Overs competition to qualify for the Camel Cup. They meet St.

George's in the semi-final next Saturday.

Cuts have been boosted by the inclusion of Brian Gibbons and Garry Williams from Western Counties neighbours Somerset Bridge and Southampton, as well as Charles Swan from Somerset.

Matches are scheduled for today and tomorrow in the First Division Open where the Warwick-Cleveland clash at Southampton Oval looks like being the pick of the matches today. Hamilton Parish take on Somerset at Sea Breeze Oval while Social host Somerset Bridge at Nationals and Flatts play IYT at Devonshire Rec.

Tomorrow, Rec. meet Cleveland at home while Social Club entertain Somerset, Parish play Flatts and Warwick host IYT at Southampton Oval. All matches start at 11.00 a.m.