Worcestershire Academy have been drawn away to Berkswell in the first round of the 2023 Birmingham and District Premier League Graham Williamson Trophy.
Last summer, the Academy knocked out three BPL sides in Halesowen, the then holders Barnt Green and Ombersley, to reach the final.
They were beaten by Smethwick, whose team included Worcestershire Assistant Head Coach Kadeer Ali, in the final at New Road.
Academy Coach Elliot Wilson: “We’ve played in the competition for about five years, and it’s great for us because we don’t play too much cricket where there is stuff to be won or lost, a genuine knockout competition with a bit of jeopardy.
“To play a series of games like that has been great for the lads.
“They’ve probably enjoyed it as much as anything because ultimately, whilst we as developers don’t want them to be playing cricket where it is all about winning and losing, they enjoy games where it is about that.
“We’ve drawn Berkswell, who have been one of the strongest teams in the league for the past decade, and it will be a good challenge for the lads.
“For them to have won three jeopardy games last season, to get to a final, was a credit to them and reflected well on the strength of that group last year.
“A lot of players of an age who have either gone onto professional contracts or are aspiring to.”
First-round matches will be played on Saturday, April 8 and the winners of the Berkswell-Worcestershire Academy match will face a trip to the winners of the Omberslsey-Moseley encounter in the second round on Sunday, April 16.
