Greenfield show Nurse exit door

GREENFIELD have sacked overseas amateur cricketer Ryan Nurse in the wake of his disciplinary problems.

The 25-year-old West Indian all rounder had only just completed a 10-match ban imposed by the Armstrongs Office Furniture Saddleworth and District Cricket League.

The disciplinary committee handed out the punishment after two incidents in the space of 24 hours.

Nurse, who had played first-class cricket for Barbados, was found guilty of using foul and abusive language towards an umpire and showing dissent by knocking down his stumps after another dismissal.

He swore at an umpire after he was given out during a league fixture at Bamford Fieldhouse towards the end of May and then the next day smashed his stumps in the Tanner Cup first-round tie at home to Hollinwood the next day.

But having completed his lengthy ban, Greenfield won’t be having Nurse back in their side.

“Our arrangement with Ryan has come to an end and he will no longer be playing for us,” explained Greenfield secretary Bob Weedon.

Mr Weedon added that it will be a waste of money to try to find a replacement at this late stage of the season.

Greenfield, who this season didn’t engage a professional, will therefore finish the campaign with a team wholly comprising local players.

Mr Weedon continued: “Our new captain Jonathan Ainley’s idea is to stay in-house and give our youngsters a chance.

“And the two league wins we enjoyed last weekend have given everybody a lift.”

Greenfield are unhappy with Nurse, who arrived with a glowing CV and who they hoped would be the catalyst for success.

He had spent the two previous seasons with Porthill Park in the North Staffs/South Cheshire League, an ECB Premier League. And before that he had produced record-breaking exploits for Denton St Lawrence in the Lancashire County League.

Mr Weedon went on: “We are disappointed with what has happened as we had been looking forward to a successful season.

“Mark Ogden returned to the club and we recruited Craig Smith on the strength of Ryan joining us only for the promise to rapidly fall apart.”

Greenfield are hoping the home players will rise to the challenge and benefit from the added responsibility afforded to them in the remainder of the campaign.

The Ladhill Lane club will then regroup in readiness for the 2009 campaign when they hope to have a professional and possibly also an overseas amateur on board.