Barnsley begin their first ever season without a side in the top league of an ECB Premier League, by sticking to their principles of giving their talented young players the opportunity to take them back to the highest level.

Allrounder Boeta Beukes remains as captain with 20 year old opening batter William Chapman taking the role of vice captain. They have added two batters to their ranks with overseas star Ali Zaryab bringing leadership qualities that the side lacked last season. Ali represented Pakistan U19s in the 2018, World Cup, where he was his nations leading run scorer. It will be Ali’s seventh season in the UK, he skippered his side last season, which saw them promoted back to the strong Birmingham Premier League. A first class batting average of 41, with 10 centuries to his name, Ali will add maturity and buckets of talent to the top order this season. Another addition is Zamarsh Tarakhil moving from Worsborough. Tareq, as he’s known, is another talented batsman who has been Worsborough’s overseas for the past two seasons. He boasts four centuries in that time with over 1500 runs and four centuries to his name.

The skipper and 19 year old Freddie Chapman will make up the middle order, with both making contributions last season in the Premier League. Another young talent in wicket keeper batsman Ciaran Stenton, will want to impress with the bat, having already scored a Championship hundred in 2024.

On the bowling front, the club will feel like 20 year old Harvey Round is a new signing, having not bowled all last season. Retaining the services of Harvey, who has represented Yorkshire at second team level, was a massive boost and shows the intent of the club to bounce back this season. Harvey took 20 wickets for the club in a limited role in 2023 and his pace will be a handful for batters. His opening partner will come from either Academy bowlers 17 year old Charlie Taylor or 18 year old Rizwan Ishtaq. All three will make up a quick attack that should have batsman on the toes. Charlie also scored his first century for the club last season and will help glue the middle order together. Complimenting them with more pace will be 18 year old Lucas Slatter who showed last season, that he can become a genuine allrounder with a Premier League half century. Mansoor Shinwari and Tareq will also offer seam options for the club.

The spin department will be taken care of from the skipper, the overseas and then either slow left armer Lewis Bray or 18 year old Max Heseltine.

The only noticeable departure from the club is Owen Smith, who signed his first professional contract with Yorkshire at the end of last season. Owen has starred for the club since he was eight years old and we wish him all the best moving forward.

The club are confident that a season of Championship cricket, as it did for Doncaster, Appleby Frodingham and Cleethorpes, who have all gone on to claim the Premier Division title having regained their top tier status, could be a blessing in disguise as the young team mature into what we hope will be the backbone of the first team for many years to come.

The second team has a new leader for the 2026 campaign. Mark Wilkinson has made the move from Worsborough Bridge and brings many years of experience to the role. His son, 18 year old, Lewis has also made the move and both will be hoping to take the side back into Division One. Andrew Clayton steps down, but will still contribute to the side and give another experienced head amongst the talented youngsters.

Hopefully there will be two from the thirteen mentioned amongst the first team squad that will help to give quality to the second team. Then it’s over to the young players. 15 year old Ollie Chapman-Stott is a hard hitting all rounder who we have high hopes for, other teenagers Freddie Egginton, Alfie Gosney and Dairen Hirst-Spalding will all look to gain valuable time developing. Ishaq Shenwari and Ethan Shillito will add depth to the batting and both will be more than valuable with the ball. Zain Khan has transferred from Sheffield United and will offer another pace option.

Callum Bentley takes over the reins for the third team, and his work ethic and love for the club are qualities that he’ll try and install into his side. His vice captain will be Liam Margison and together they will shepherd another young side. Isaac Wilkes is a promising off spinner who can more than hold his own with the bat. Finley Parker-Wake and Saif Ahmadzai are two young seamers who will benefit under the watchful eye of Bentley. Brothers Ozhare and Oveis Khan give more depths to the side, following their transfer from Sheffield United.

Steve Dixon continues his spell as fourth team captain and will hope to continue the conveyor belt of young talent coming through his side, as he prepares them for life in the higher leagues.

Overall, the first and second team will want to push for promotion whilst a mid table finish for the thirds and completion of all fixtures are the aims for the fourth team.

Let’s hope we get the weather for a long and fruitful summer as cricket is back for 2026.