Bolton Association club Astley and Tyldesley have signed Joe Hawkes as their new professional for next season.

The opening bowler will replace Chris Cook-Martin who has joined Oswaldtwistle.

Hawkes is captain of Lancashire Under-19s and has played a few games for Lancashire’s second team.

Daisy Hill’s pro last season, Anwar Ul-Haq, has joined Radcliffe.

The 26-year-old Pakistani all-rounder top-scored and took most wickets for the Bolton Association side last season with 637 runs and 51 wickets.

Manchester-based Ul-Haq, whose wife had twins recently, will replace long-serving professional Usman Tariq, who has joined Bolton League side Walkden.

Player coach Chris Berry is already preparing Radcliffe for the next campaign as the club bids to improve on last year’s disappointing second-bottom finish in the Central Lancashire League.

“We are aiming to hit the ground running,” said Berry. “Anwar is a player of proven class and ability, although we were sorry to lose Usman.

“We struggled last season, although our form improved towards the end and we managed to avoid finishing bottom.”

Berry’s men have their first net session at the Bolton Indians Cricket Centre in Darcy Lever on January 21, 6-7pm juniors and 7-8pm seniors.

“We are always on the lookout for new players,” Berry added.

“And we are looking forward to welcoming back some of our experienced lads.”

Richard Farnworth captained the side towards the end of last season, but no decision has been made yet by the Radcliffe committee over who will lead the team in 2010.

Ul-Haq has been replaced by Pakistani all rounder Asif Zakir who came to the attention of Bolton Association clubs in the Cross Cup final in 2008 when he scored a century and took five wickets as deputy pro for Little Hulton.