Outlook bright as 16 clubs battle for supremacy

Photo: PICTURE by DARREN ROBINSON

SUNNY SIDE UP: South African Shadley van Schalkwyk has replaced Gerrie Snyman as Heyside’s professional in 2014.

WITH 16 clubs, including South-West Manchester, Whalley Range and Wythenshawe for the first time, the 2014 Saddleworth and District Cricket League season promises to be of the most competitive in its history.

In the first part of a two-part preview we feature prospects for teams Austerlands to Micklehurst - look out for Moorside to Wythenshawe tomorrow.




AUSTERLANDS . . .
Captain: Adam Young

Professional: Asif Zakir (Pakistan)

Overseas amateur: Cameron Roxby (Australia)



ADAM Young is hoping new pro Asif Zakir (30) can be a steadying influence at the top of the order.

The Pakistani has scored plenty of runs for Greenmount (Bolton League) in the last three seasons and has enjoyed a prolific winter back home as captain of Karachi Whites.

Austerlands also boast a new overseas amateur in Cameron Roxby (19), from Sydney. Such was the 6ft 3in all-rounder’s ability in his early teens that he attended the Cricket Australia Centre of Excellence.

With Andrew Cadd now at Delph, he will open the bowling alongside either Michael Lockett or Andy Young, all three being seamers.




DROYLSDEN . . .
Captain: Gareth Dent

Professional: None

Overseas amateur: Greg Richie (France)



AFTER playing his part in Denton West’s Lancashire County League title success of last season, Michael Schofield has returned to Droylsden. The batsman will add useful top-order runs to a side which is again skippered by Gareth Dent.

Though the club has decided against employing a pro, the Oakfield outfit has signed an overseas amateur, all-rounder Greg Richie.

Another new face is Mohammed Habib, formerly of Friarmere.

Droylsden have lost the services of Abdul Chand — he featured in the competition’s leading amateur

batting averages in 2012 and 13 — but have retained frontline bowlers Saif Ur Rehman and Mohammed Shakir.




HEYSIDE . . .
Captain: Ryan Barnes

Professional: Shadley van Schalkwyk

(South Africa)

Overseas: Kervon Christmas (West Indies)



SKIPPER Ryan Barnes admits he is facing some tough decisions as he prepares his side for the defence of the title.

The addition of Matthew Chadwick, formerly of neighbours Shaw, and the return of ex-captain Ben Holt from suspension along with Stuart Moore, Lee Watkinson and Matthew Wheelton, will leave Barnes with plenty to ponder on selection nights.

Heyside have a new pro in Shadley van Schalkwyk, who replaces big-hitting Namibian batsman Gerrie Snyman.

The South African is one of several bowling options for Barnes, who can also call upon Moore, Carl Newton, Scott Bloor, Danny Cashin and Nick Campbell.




HOLLINWOOD. . .
Captain: Shakeel Saddique

Professional: None

Overseas amateur: None



WITH no pro or overseas amateur, skipper Shakeel Saddique is hoping for more big things from Kashif Khan.

Only Josh Tolley, Crompton’s pro in the CLL for 2014, and Moorside’s South African all-rounder Francois Mostert finished above Khan in the amateur batting ranks last season. He scored almost 850 runs at an average of 40.2.

Offering support will be Fauher Zaman, whom was among the leading amateur batsmen last term with close on 500 runs. On the bowling front, Hollinwood will again look to seamer Mohammed Shazad, who has represented the league side in the past.




MICKLEHURST. . .
Captain: Michael Blomeley

Professional: Peter Skuse (Australia)

Overseas amateur: TBC



WITH the vast experience of Peter Skuse in their side, Micklehurst should be far tougher nut to crack this season.

The Australian spent more than a decade at Saddleworth, where he won two league titles and two Tanner Cups.

His knowhow is sure to rub off on his new team-mates, who include promising youngsters off-spinner Indy Singh and Jake Cauldwell, a solid batsman and accurate seam bowler.

Blomeley, who will open the batting alongside Danny Clayton, welcomes two more new additions from Saddleworth in Kyle Clayton (no relation) and Kevin Dooley.

The skipper is hoping to welcome back from injury Nicky (ankle) and Craig Lawrence (back) for Saturday’s opener, but Tim Wood (shoulder) is absent.



FRIARMERE . . .
Captain: Andy Walker

Professional: None

Overseas amateur: Adnan Farooq (TBC, Pakistan)



DARREN Shadford was expected return to the Slack Lane club, where he won the league’s amateur batting prize in 2011, but has instead signed for rivals Saddleworth.

It leaves a sizeable hole in Friarmere’s plans, which probably leaves Majid Khan and Imran Khan to open the innings.

Friarmere are still awaiting news on whether Pakistani Adnan Farooq. will be back as overseas amateur. He claimed 62 wickets for them in 2013.

Top order batsman Ishtiaq Hussain is fit again after missing last season because of a back injury.

One new face in the Friarmere line-up is Imran Aslam, formerly of Oldham.

The club has high hopes that Zak Arshad can maintain his progress. He bagged the league’s under-17s

bowling award in 2013.




GLODWICK . . .
Captain: Nigel Stock

Professional: Rehan Rafiq (Pakistan)

Overseas amateur: None



IT is a case of as you were for last year’s runners-up. With cool pro Rehan Rafiq still in the fold alongside several solid performers, Glodwick are sure to be pushing for honours again.

All-rounder Imran Asghar has returned to Warren Lane after spending the second half of last summer at Shelley in the Huddersfield League, while Shahid Mahmood is available after serving a ban.




GREENFIELD . . .
Captain: Alex Peters.

Professional: Chris Gill (England)

Overseas amateur: None



BOWLER Adam Robinson, who helped Greenfield to the title in 2000, will again step out on to the Ladhill Lane turf after stints in the Huddersfield League and CLL.

Chris Gill, back from a winter in Brisbane at the Toombul club, will continue as pro and keep wicket.

Captain Alex Peters, who enjoyed a terrific 2013 with bat and ball, will look to improve on his side’s

sixth-placed finish of last term.

The side is awash with players capable of digging in for useful runs, while the attack offers plenty of variation, from Peter Gill’s loopy, slow bombs which cause batsmen no end of problems, to the seam-up of Adam Hayes, Josh Higgins, Michael Bird and Jonathan Ainley, as well as Peters’ spin.