Dan Baker has been appointed as the new captain of Nulla's Premier League side after Ben Taylor decided to step down after two years at the helm.
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Taylor will remain in the squad, to provide his lethal spin bowling, but Baker will now call the shots and look to improve the side which finished the 2018/19 season in last place.
Baker was Nulla's shining light last year, as he was the clear standout with both the bat and ball.
Baker, a middle-order batsman, often arrived at the crease with his side under the pump but managed to bat them back into the game on numerous occasions.
The all-rounder top scored for Nulla with 314 runs, at an average of 28.55 and at an impressive 206.6 strike rate from his 12 innings.
The new leader also did damage with the ball as he had the equal fourth most wickets in the league. Baker will open the bowling this season.
Baker was the next man in line to take the reins of Nulla and the 22-year-old has his sights set on building a contender over the next few years.
"Hopefully we can push for a finals spot but it will be a tough ask this year," Baker told the Argus.
"We need a couple more players and a bit more experience to come into the side.
"If we miss out this season, hopefully we will set a building block in place to make the finals the year after."
There's reason to be optimistic for the future, with three young guns stepping up for the new challenge in the Mid North Coast competition.
Corey Crotty, 18, Tom Paix, 15, and Dylan Mann, 15, have been plying their trade in the Macleay Valley Cricket Association's first grade competition and Baker claims they are ready for the new test.
"All three are solid batsmen and Dylan can bowl leggies as well," Baker said.
"They have experience playing plenty of rep cricket but it will be good for them to step up into this league.
"This is what it was created for, to create a pathway for the junior players to play at a higher level of cricket in the local area."
Experienced heads Chris White, Todd Giddy and Bryce Widison will join Taylor and Baker in the side as the five players to play the two previous Premier League seasons.
Baker, who has captained sides through junior cricket, said he will bring an attacking style of play but ultimately will adjust his strategy to the different situations the side finds themselves in throughout the season.
