For Hermes DVS, the winter has been a period of almost unmitigated gain: not only have they acquired the services of New Zealand-born Dutch aspirant Derek de Boorder, but their already strong seam attack has been augmented by the return of left-armer Ernst van Giezen, who comes back to his old club after a four-year stint with VOC-Rotterdam.

Van Giezen will join international Ruud Nijman, Erik Hartong, Nils Lenstra, Harro Seelaar and Sebastiaan Braat, the latter one of the most promising of the youth talents recently added to the natinal A-SQUAD, in a generally steady seam department, with the spin again provided by Pieter Seelaar and Nick Statham.

With Shanan Stewart- second in the natinal averages last season with 831 runs at 55,40- returning as player-coach and Staham and De Boorder in the toporder, Hermes DVS will be hoping to register substantial totals more consistently than they have been able to do in the past, perhaps the main reason that they have not managed to reach the play-offs in the three years since they were established.

As unknown quantity as yet is young English batsman Ben Lake, whose performances in the Bassetlaw and District League suggest he may challenge for a first-team place, and Hermes DVS have also picked up Laurens Jongepier- a prolific scorer in the Overgangsklasse last season- from neighbours Asvion.

Jasper Beijer and keeper Bart Schilperoord are also capable of making valuable runs, while the club are hopeful that former youth-international Pieter van der Hammen will have more time this season to develop his considerable potential. The only bad news is the retirement of long-serving opening batsman Renzo Borrani.

BRON: CRICKETEUROPE 7-4-2010