High hopes for young cricketers at Darwen
John Cordingley skippers Darwen in 2010 |
Darwen have lost one Cordingley and gained another as they approach the new season.
Gareth Cordingley, 37, who achieved the coveted milestone of 10,000 runs in Northern League cricket two years ago is having a season off due to family commitments.
But all-rounder brother Neil, 30, returns to Birch Hall after a spell in the Ribblesdale League with Whalley, having played for Darwen in the Twenty20 competition last season, and he will be vice-captain.
Meanwhile younger brother and opening batsman John Cordingley, 27, takes over the captaincy reins after Andrew Cook relinquished the position after two seasons in the Birch Hall hot seat.
Darwen made their choice of professional early, recruiting the experienced Mohammad Zaman Khan. Nicknamed 'Zimmy' he is an experienced league professional who scored 1,090 runs and took 62 wickets for Crompton in the Central Lancashire League last season. Previously he enjoyed a successful stint with Cleckheaton in the Bradford League.
The Darwen professional resides in this country and has business interests locally and so is available for the entire season.
"It's my first year as captain and a challenge I'm really looking forward to," says John Cordingley. "I am really excited about the season. We have a decent but young side with lots of good players. Neil's back, which is a major plus. He's a very experienced cricketer and can bat, bowl and field and getting a pro of the calibre of Zimmy was a big thing.
"He sub-pro'd for us a few times last year and was very consistent with his bowling. We didn't see the best off him with the bat but you can't argue with the stats he's produced over the last few years. He lives locally which is a big factor and he gets on well with all the lads."
Other than the new professional there are few changes to the Darwen playing roster. Teenaged opening bowler Yakub Bhamji was selected for the Lancashire Academy squad over the winter and all-rounder Kamran Anwar is another highly promising young player who has already played a considerable amount of first-team cricket.
Alex Davies received the Cedric Rhoades Player of the Season award at the LCB Development of Excellence presentation evening made his breakthrough into Darwen's first-team in 2009 and will be looking to continue his progress. The 15-year-old Davies scored 231 runs at 21 in the firsts and kept wicket impressively in the seconds, also making a century.
Wicketkeeper Jordan Clarke has been selected for Lancashire U19s trial games and he will be Darwen's first team 'keeper. His elder brother Cris showed signs of developing into a genuine all-rounder last season and will aiming to develop his spin bowling.
Former captain Chris Lowe made a welcome return last season following a knee injury and will lend new skipper Cordingley valuable support. But seam bowler Stuart Hampson has been struggling with injury and is a fitness doubt for the new season.
"In lots of games last year we came close to beating some very good sides last year," Cordingley adds. "We are hoping that our young bowlers learn from that experience and if we can find that extra 20percent we can win a few games that were lost last year. We're hoping that the likes of Yakub and Kamran push on from 20 wickets to the 30 or 40 mark this year."
Darwen have been champions five times, the last in 2003 and though a title challenge looks optimistic there is enough talent in the squad to improve on last season's 11th place.
Gary Jackson will again skipper the second team. "Dave Bonner has retired and we'll miss seeing him around the place as much but we have a good mix of youth and experience in our second team," Cordingley added. "I hope that several of the young players from the seconds will push for a first-team place this year."
Darwen begin their division one campaign at home to Kendal on 17 April (1pm).
Mohammad Zaman Khan will be Darwen's pro in 2010 |
