Oldham leap to Mel’s defence

Photo: Picture by CHRIS SUNDERLAND.

NOT THIS TIME . . . Mel Whittle comes close to dismissing Norden's Daz Cryer during Oldham’s victory over their title rivals at the Pollards.

OLDHAM Cricket Club have bowled a short-pitched delivery at Lake Garage CLL officials considering disciplinary action against captain Mel Whittle.

Club spokesman Alan Inkpen has accused league chiefs of trying to suppress freedom of speech after an Oldham Evening Chronicle report quoted the Pollards club skipper.

In a letter to Oldham, the CLL management committee alleged Whittle brought the league into disrepute by describing an umpiring decision as "horrendous."

Oldham have been asked for their observations and Mr Inkpen, the club's representative on the league committee, came to the defence of under-fire Whittle at the monthly meeting of clubs.

He said: "Mel did not mention the umpire by name and, by describing the decision as 'horrendous', I cannot see how that is derogatory or abusive.

"I fail to see how calling a decision horrendous brings the league into disrepute, but it raises the question of free speech.

"I think it is a poor day for the league and for freedom of speech. The sooner this is buried the better.

"Players can be slated and umpires appear the only ones who are untouchable, yet we have heard from other clubs who are unhappy with the standard of umpiring."

Unsworth made a complaint about the standard of officiating in two of their matches, and the CLL committee noted their grievances.

The CLL management committee has also requested a response from Oldham over comments made by their bowler, Stuart Moore, in another Chronicle article in which he criticised the league and its umpires.

The committee alleges that Moore, too, brought the league into disrepute.




OLDHAM are waiting for a ruling from the MCC after disputing their league defeat at Werneth.



The scorers mistakenly thought Oldham had incurred a five-run penalty and it was not until after the match finished that the error came to light.

Oldham claim it could have had a bearing on the eventual result – they lost by four wickets with eight balls to spare – which is why they want the result scrapped.

The CLL management committee has ruled the result must stand, pending clarification from the MCC.




ROYTON'S second-team game against Littleborough has been declared a tie after the CLL were asked to intervene following discrepancies in the scorebook which were unable to be resolved.