While most of the country’s Sunday cricketers have been busy hibernating through the winter, the same cannot be said by the hardy souls of Walsall Health Cricket Club.

In addition to extracting personal fitness regimes, several of The Elf players have maintained a rigorous weekly net session throughout the winter months.

And, as the photographic evidence suggests, a high-protein diet has been strictly followed at such local eating places as Mad O’Rourkes in Tipton and The Vine in West Bromwich as part of the comprehensive training plan which will ensure the players are in peak fitness for the season opener against Sportsman on Sunday April 27.