CARLISLE Cricket Club is confident that it will be back in action for the first day of the season later this month.

A final push to get it shipshape following December’s floods takes place this weekend.

Members and volunteers will gather at Edenside tomorrow and Sunday for the annual Natwest Cricket Force spruce up ahead of the season opener on April 30.

Carlisle’s first team will be taking on Millom in a league game.

The ground and pavilion were submerged by floodwater in December.

Since the new year members have been gathering every Saturday to carry out a huge clean-up operation.

Carlisle’s secretary Mark Davidson said: “If you saw what this place looked like back in January to what it looks like now, the difference is remarkable.

“It is brilliant the support we’ve had from sponsors, funders and helpers.

“The response has been fantastic from the membership too.”

An ECB ground inspection last month went well and Edenside is to host a Cumberland county game in June, he added.

Repairs to the club’s pavilion are continuing and are expected to be completed ahead of the Millom match.

Groundwork, work to reassemble the covers and sidescreens and decorating duties are among the jobs on the cards for Cricket Force, which is the annual weekend encouraging grassroots clubs to get grounds ready for the new season.