Optimism in the air at Broadwater
Ryan Smith has been confirmed as Fleetwood pro
|
Few clubs can match the early season optimism in the air at Broadwater where Fleetwood Captain Mat Clark reports a positive outlook from his charges.
Clark took the reins during last season and spearheaded a revival in the second half of the campaign which he hopes will be maintained this year.
Fleetwood have confirmed that Ryan Smith will be professional after overcoming shoulder problems that interrupted his season back home in Australia.
Smith, who holds a British passport is a top grade cricketer with Penrith CC in Sydney and was a regular in the Derbyshire Second XI in 2010.
Though he took some time to adjust to bowling in English conditions Smith finished with 41 wickets at an average of 27; allied to his aggressive batting and superb fielding, which won him the Castle amateur award he could be well pleased with his debut season.
Now Smith replaces Matt Frith as Fleetwood pro and will be all out to prove himself as the fastest bowler in the Furness Building Society Northern Premier Cricket League (incorporating Readers Cricket Balls).
"Ryan has got over his injury and has been hitting the straps for Penrith in recent weeks," Clark reports. "He's had no problems and can't wait to get back over here. He's as keen as mustard.
"We've had long chats about his role in the side and adjusting his length to the conditions over here and I'm sure he's in for a big season. As a batsman he's far more than a slogger and is capable of 500 runs plus while his fielding is awesome. He loves it at Fleetwood and is part of the fabric of the place. We've spoken about targets, both for him as a player and for the other players and the team.
"He may play midweek for one of the counties or do some coaching in local schools but first and foremost he's here to do a job for Fleetwood."
Clark has also pulled something of a masterstroke in tempting Adam Parker back to Broadwater. One of the league's most consistent players and a Dream Team representative in each of the last two years, Parker has left Preston to rejoin Fleetwood.
"Adam is a top player and his attitude to the game is spot-on," Clark says. "He's here to enjoy his cricket and in the nets he's been bowling well so that's another big part to his game. He is a consistent runs-scorer at this level of cricket and I'm hoping he will set the lead for others to follow.
"There's no reason why players like Mike Clinning, Adam Sharrocks, Tom Wilson and Chris Stanhope should not be scoring 500 runs a season. They've got the ability but maybe have just lacked the self belief in the past. They're good players and the ethos this year will be on working hard during the week and putting that into practice at weekends."
Wicketkeeper Dean Bell will miss the first two games while playing for Cambridge University UCCE but Clark has plenty of back-up with Lee Jones and Scott Richardson to don the gloves while 2009 captain Jimmy Ellis is hoping to be available for half the games after work commitments ruled him out of the 2010 season.
The off-spin of Clinning, left arm seam of Parker and developing opening bowling of the talented Sam Bell will support pro Smith in the bowling stakes.
Wayne Clarke takes charge of the Second XI, an appointment that Clark feels will benefit the club immensely.
"Like me Wayne is passionate about the club and we believe that the first team can't succeed without the seconds and vice versa," he says. "He wanted to take on the job and I'm sure the young lads will respond to him."
Broadwater is looking good after new groundsman Steve Hesk has spent time in the winter on the square and outfield. "We've got batsmen who like pace on the ball and one of the fastest bowlers around in Ryan so it makes sense to have more life in the square," Clark adds.
"The mood's great; the players are working hard, we have a great team spirit and we want to do well. You look around the league and a lot of the teams have lots of reasons to be positive about the season- we're certainly in that category.
"We've a tough start- we play champions Leyland in the first match, then Darwen and have Bootle in the National knock-out but we've nothing to fear."
Adam Parker has left Preston to rejoin Fleetwood
|
