Delph turn to ‘spin twins’

DELPH captain Grant Jones is hoping ‘spin twins’ Aaron Lilley and Kamran Mirza can form a formidable bowling partnership in the Drakes Huddersfield League.

The new premiership one season gets under way on Saturday when Delph, who finished fourth last year, visit Slaithwaite (1.30pm).

New signing Lilley, who has made the move from league rivals Micklehurst, and Mirza claimed 104 wickets between them in 2008. Mirza’s 54 victims, at an average of 12.31, earned him the individual bowling honour.

Jones, who is expected to resume wicketkeeping duties in place of Jamie Haynes, said: “I’m looking forward to bowling them together, especially on the bigger grounds.

“Hopefully they can tie sides down, rather than having to revert to the medium pacers.

“Aaron has just turned 18, so there is no restrictions on the amount of overs he can bowl. He is also a very useful batsman.”

Carl Jump has rejoined Delph after a spell at Holmfirth, while Graeme Simpson is fit again after undergoing heart surgery last summer.

Jones said: “Carl is a very experienced cricketer. He will bolster the middle-order and will also come on second or third change bowler.

“Graeme coming back is akin to signing a new player. He’s been in the gym, has been in the nets and has a hunger for it.”

Delph, who will again feature Bruce Cruse, Mike Smethurst, Irfan Zahoor and Lancashire all-rounder Kyle Hogg when available, won the Examiner Twenty20 Cup and were beaten finalists in the Romida Sykes Cup in 2008.

Their first league title continues to elude them but Jones, who hopes to have professional Bilal Khilji available for this weekend’s curtain-raiser, is upbeat.

He said: “I think we’ve got a good chance.

“We have more variety in the bowling and we can bat a long way down the order.

“Many of the sides have strengthened. Honley, the champions for the past four seasons, have brought in Matthew Wood from Glamorgan, and I expect them to be the ones to beat again.”


MICKLEHURST, with father and son Mel and Tom Whittle in tandem, start their season at Golcar.

Andrew Gleave, the former Flowery Field all-rounder, has replaced Australian Dennis Lonergan as professional.

Aaron Lilley has joined Delph, while Mel Austin has returned to Bamford Fieldhouse in the Saddleworth and District League.