Braintree cricket Club are ready for a return to the top flight

And having got back into division one, they want to make sure they stay there.

Braintree went up at the end of last year as 2015 division two champions and captain Will Jackson said they are returning with intent this weekend as the new season gets under way with a home game against Worlington at their St Peter’s Road ground.

He said: “We’ve had a really good winter; it’s gone very well and we feel ready for an assault on division one.

“It is a big step as there are big clubs up there and big names playing there, but we won’t be overwhelmed by it all.

“The aim is to consolidate in the division as we want to be a division one club and we feel we can compete at that level.

“We’re under no illusion over how tough it will be but we are ready for the challenge.

"We have been netting well over the winter and every single one of the players who were with us as we sealed promotion – other than Lachlan Ford, who has gone back to Australia – has stayed involved.”

One change that has been made ahead of the first game on Saturday is that Dan Garner has been made vice-captain, with Australian bowler Quincy Titterton named as the club’s overseas player for 2016.

The step-up will be a challenge, but it is one that Braintree are looking forward to as well as the number of derby games against local rivals such as Witham, Coggeshall and Halstead that they will encounter now they are back in the top flight.

“We will relish the big derby games and it will be exciting to have them,” added Jackson.

“We know we have the beating of several of the sides there as we beat Copford and Haverhill last year and beat Halstead and Frinton seconds in the seasons they went up.

“So we know we have beaten them in recent years and we can’t be afraid of anyone.”