Miller takes charge at Shap Road
Chris Miller is determined not to under-bowl himself for Kendal
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Chris Miller is determined that the extra responsibility of captaincy will not dull his bowling skills after taking charge at Kendal.
Miller, a regular in the Cumberland County set-up and consistently one of the most successful bowlers in the league takes over the skipper's role from Ross McMillan.
McMillan, who has enjoyed a successful domestic season in South Africa scoring three hundreds whilst captaining South Western Districts, elected not to return as professional after three seasons at Shap Road.
Kendal then turned to 22-year-old Miller who becomes perhaps the youngest captain in Northern League history. Miller who captured 60 league wickets for Kendal in 2010, just missing out to Lancaster's Ben Simm for the amateur bowling award will be assisted by vice-captain Stu Parkin.
And they announced their intentions for the season by signing a top professional in current international Jamie How, a member of the New Zealand World Cup squad.
"I captained the Cumbria youth teams and it didn't affect my game," says off-spinner Miller. "The only problem was that perhaps I under-bowled myself. I have learnt from that experience and it was a job I was keen to take on.
"We know that we had a poor season last year and need to put things right. Signing Jamie put down a marker and will hopefully raise the profile of the club in the local community. We also want to attract players who are keen to come and play alongside him."
The signing of leading opening batsman Jonathan Miles, also a regular in the Cumberland set-up, was proof of that plan. Miles joins the club from Barrow, having broken his own club amateur batting record in the Northern League with 878 runs at 46.21 in 2010. Miles is currently studying at university in Worcester and had been expected to join a club in the Birmingham League.
But long-serving all-rounder Kevin Howarth, a former Cumberland County representative has decided to retire from Northern League cricket due to family commitments. Howarth played for Kendal for ten years, scoring 4,389 league runs at an average of 27.60 including three hundreds and taking 292 wickets at 18.74.
And Kendal and the league as a whole has suffered agonies, waiting for news on the condition of Jamie Heywood, who joined the Club from Lancaster during the winter.
Heywood sustained serious head injuries after a fall at work and has been detained in hospital for several weeks. Happily recent bulletins have been positive.
"Jamie is a great lad and popular throughout the league," says Miller. "He had a big role to play for us this year, both opening the batting but also as a change bowler. He had fitted in straight away in pre-season training. News of his injuries affected everyone deeply and served as a reminder of just what is important in life. So many players throughout the league have been sending him good luck messages on his Facebook page and we are all thinking about him every day.
"It shows the strength of the league that while we may be rivals on the field, off it we remain friends. I know that Jamie will be overwhelmed when he reads all the messages of support for him. He's a fighter and he knows that everyone is behind him."
Teenager Jack White, invited to be part of the Cumberland set-up will have a big part to play for Kendal alongside legend Terry Hunte, the league's all-time leading runs-scorer Hunte has scored 18,438 runs at an average of 43.79 since his debut for Kendal in 1987 and his run-making skills will be vital to Miller's plans.
Opening batsman Gareth Ashburner and all-rounder Nick Lewthwaite also have big parts to play in Kendal's season.
Paul Dodds has been chosen to captain Kendal's Second XI for the forthcoming Second Division campaign. But leading batsman Donovan Du Plessis will miss part of the season as he returns home to South Africa to get married.
"Paul has an important job ahead of him," Miller adds. "He knows that the Seconds struggled at times last year and some of the young lads got disillusioned with getting beaten every week. It is vital that we build up the strength of the club and the Seconds have a big part to play in that objective."
Jonathan Miles, then with Barrow faces up to new teammate Stu Parkin
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