Opening Day Preview
New Netherfield player Chris Williams |
The new season of the northern cricket league gets underway this Saturday.
Carnforth host Kendal at Lodge Quarry with Carnforth having a new start with Both new captain Adam Hornby and new professional Toby Bulcock, Bulcock has joined Carnforth from Elton in the Bolton league were he was professional for 2 years.
Kendal go into this game with Chris Miller skippering the side for a second season and there New Zealand born professional Jamie How returns for a second season. Kendal also have two new faces in there squad for this weekends game with Darren Braithwaite joining from Ibis in the Westmorland league, Graeme Baker joins his brother Gary from Netherfield and a very warm welcome back to Jamie Heywood who plays his first game for Kendal after joining from Lancaster after a very serious injury.
Fleetwood travel to Chorley with Mat Clark skippering the side again but they welcome South African professional Shaun Leibisch to there squad for there opening game.Chorley start the new season with Andy Holdsworth as captain once again and Gaurav Dhar is professional again for the Windsor Park based club.
Darwen host Lancaster at Birch Hall with Darwen carrying on with John Cordingley as their captain but they welcome Shaun De Kock as new professional from South Africa. Lancaster have named Damian Gudgeon as their new captain and they also welcome Zimbabwean Timycen Maruma as their new professional.
Barrow travel to face Leyland at Fox Lane in what is a clash between two teams which you would class as title contenders. Leyland's David Makinson stays on as captain and Popular Professional Brett Pelser stays at Leyland for his third season with the club. It will also be a debut for Dale Jones who joins them from Walkden and Liam Hurt,Ian Dickinson and Daniel Lamb also are in the team for the opening day after impressing in the 2nd team last season.
Barrow keep Chris D'Leny has their captain but there new West Indian pace bowling professional Shannon Gabriel is unavailable so they appoint Asif Rasool as their sub pro. Barrow also include Jon Miles who returns from Kendal, Ryan Brown who joins from Millom, Nicky Burns who joins from Penrith.
Netherfield host defending champions St.Annes in what is considered as another title contenders clash. Netherfield appoint John Mason as captain and also appoint South African JJ Pienaar as their new professional. Netherfield also sign Chris Williams from Morecambe. St.Annes go to Netherfield with Andy Kellett continuing as captain but they will need a sub-pro as professional Dinuka Hettiarachchi is not available.
Preston host Morecambe at West Cliff with their captain Lukman Vahaluwala also taking on the role of professional. Morecambe travel to West Cliff with Lewis Edge taking over from Tommy Clough and also Pakistani Umar Amin as new professional and popular Gareth Pedder rejoins the club after a stint as professional at Carnforth, Tom Barnfield joins from Carnforth and James Rafferty signs for Morecambe from Warton.
On Sunday the 15th Blackpool host the Lancashire Cricket Academy, Blackpool keep Paul Danson as skipper but welcome new professional Dale Deeb from South Africa.
In the second division defending champions travel to Barrow, Kendal host Carnforth, Chorley travel to Fleetwood, Darwen travel to Lune Road to face Lancaster,Netherfield travel to St.Annes and Morecambe host Preston.
Finally, I would like to wish all teams, Players, spectators and everyone associated with the Northern Cricket League a great season and a hopefully a very warm summer.
Article by Lewis Tomlinson
