The Bushies started the season poorly last week, bundled out for less than 90 against a Wodonga Raiders team tasting victory for the first time in two summers.

But the perennial finalists will add Durham Country cricketers James Weighell and Josh Bousfield to the starting XI and welcome back Ned McCormack into the team.

Weighell was a Cricket Albury Wodonga star with the bat and ball two years ago and was part of the representative squad that made it to the final of the SCG Cup.

Both imports flew into Australia on Monday and trained on Tuesday and Thursday.

Coach Mat Armstrong said the return of three key players today would bolster the team.

“Both imports have played at a high level and it is that professionalism that is infectious for the rest of the playing group,” he said.

“Weighell, 21, is a tall quick who is handy with the bat — two years ago he made 100 against East Albury and took 23 wickets in the regular season.

“He was keen to come back last year but had a niggling back injury.

“Bousfield is only 20 and opens the bowling for the second XI at Durham and looked good.

“But he is more of a swing bowler than outright pace.”

Armstong, who is still wearing a moon boot after a pre-season training mishap left a piece of bone floating around his ankle, admits Tallangatta was below par last week.

“We bowled and fielded well but our batting was poor,” he said.

“But we probably had five or six of our regular first graders either injured or unavailable and in some ways the game mirrored our pre-season.

“But adding the imports and McCormack gives us bowlers and three bats who are likely to come in at four, five and six.”

Armstrong also expects some of this younger brigade to step up after the retirement of prolific batsman Andrew Lade.

“Andrew really struggled with his knees last year and generally couldn’t train until the Thursday night after playing at the weekend,” he said.

“He may play seconds at St Pat’s with his son but if he was to return to first grade after Christmas he is likely to play here.

“But we have McCormack who is a talented sportsman and Sam Stephens is only a young guy at 21 this year who has already played four seasons of senior cricket and made a hundred in the English summer.

“We also have Torquil McKillop, who is limited by work commitments as the local vet but if he could train regularly he could be anything.”