Chorley look to Dhar to spearhead revival
Gaurav Dhar is Chorley's pro in 2011
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Chorley CC had a disastrous centenary year on the field in 2010.
After finishing third in the Furness Building Society Northern Premier Cricket League (incorporating Readers Cricket Balls) in 2009 they slumped to 13th with just three wins and 15 defeats.
It was a tough baptism of fire for new captain Andy Holdsworth but the skipper is unbowed and determined to lead a revival this season.
"We have spoken about last season and moved on," Holdsworth says. "The players have been training hard, putting in three hour sessions on Saturday afternoons over the past few weeks and we are all looking forward to the season.
"All the players live within a three-mile radius of the ground so there's a real spirit of camaraderie and togetherness. We all want to do well for Chorley and we are all Chorley through and through."
Chorley were competitive in most matches in 2010 but all too often their batting let them down in run chases or failed to set competitive totals.
That was despite having a top-line pro in South African pro JJ Smuts who scored 747 runs at an average of 57 until leaving the club early to play in an emerging players' tournament.
Smuts' replacement is former Chorley player Gaurav Dhar, aged 23, who has just completed a three-year stint as part of the MCC Young Professionals set-up at Lord's.
"Chris Hartley, our Australian professional made a huge impact in 2009 not only on the field but off it as well and I'm expecting Gaurav to do the same," says Holdsworth. "He knows the club inside out and knows what the members expect in terms of commitment and performance.
"Already there are signs that Gaurav is making an impact on what will be his first professional engagement. Though he's only young he's an experienced cricketer, a good batsman, fine fielder and really good leg-spin bowler and he's gained a lot of experience during his time at Lord's.
"Gaurav still harbours hopes of breaking through into county cricket and knows that doing well for Chorley will enable him to get noticed. But if he doesn't make that step realistically he could be a league professional for the next 20 years. His enthusiasm for the game is infectious and that is rubbing off on the players."
Chorley have also recruited a club coach with Iain Critchley, brother of the long-serving Michael moving to Windsor Park from a spell in the Bolton Association. Critchley, an aggressive batsman and slow left arm bowler will be an important part of the Chorley side this year and will bowl in tandem with the professional.
On the batting front, Chorley have lost opening batsman James Reynard who was at the club for one season after moving from Horwich. Reynard has decided to move to Edgworth in the Bolton Association.
Jack Catterall, fresh from a round the world tour with team-mate Billy Smith, Will Moulton, Michael Critchley and the skipper will bear the brunt of the run-making responsibility while teenager Stu Naden, last season's record breaking Second XI batsman will be pressing for a regular first team spot after a winter in Australia.
On the bowling front Holdsworth has, on paper at least a wealth of options with Billy Smith, Kieran McCullagh and Jimmy Lee forming one of the league's best seam attacks alongside spinners Dhar and Critchley.
Smith made the Dream Team in 2009 while fellow left armer McCullagh has the potential to be one of the quickest English bowlers in the league and is also an explosive batsman. The highly-rated Lee took 34 wickets in 2009 but struggled to recapture his form last season after spending a year in America.
Ian Mawdesley will again captain the Second XI having led the side to third place in 2010 together with a Readers Cup triumph over St Annes.
Dhar is a fine legspin bowler and aggressive batsman
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