Oldham making wrong choices

ROYTON CC first X1, 2010, from left to right, back row: Ryan Mayes, Lee Gibbons, Simon Brierley, Guy Lovell, Gareth Lees, Liam Mason. Front: Matthew Smith, Liam Brown, Luke Procter (professional and captain ) Joe Lovell, Adam Wade.

CRICKET: CHRIS McDonnell made an unbeaten century during Oldham’s defeat against Middleton on Saturday – but his personal milestone was of no consolation.

“To be honest with you, I didn't feel anything,” admitted the Oldham skipper.

“It’s happened before where I have watched from the other end while our batsman have chosen the wrong shots to play and got themselves out.

“It’s happening too much and it’s something we have to put right if we are to improve our position.”

That position, second from bottom after seven matches, is of obvious concern to McDonnell, who added: “There is a lack of confidence, particularly in the batting, but what I keep saying to the players is that you can’t make runs if you are back in the shed.

“Like you wrote a few weeks ago, we have a decent side on paper, but the game is not played on paper, it’s played out on the pitch.

“We can get runs as we showed when scoring almost 200 against Crompton a few weeks ago, but we won’t score enough until we sort out our shot selection.”

Lack of runs is also having an effect on the team’s bowling and fielding.

“We are probably a bowler light,” admitted McDonnell. “The pro (Mohammed Hanif) is bowling all right, if a little expensive, while Craig Joy is new to the job and Mel (Whittle) is as reliable as ever.

“Keelan (Gossayn, overseas amateur) is probably a bit quicker than Craig, but went for 39 off four against Middleton and we are working with him in the nets.

“As regards our fielding, it really is basic stuff. Some of the catches we have dropped have not even been half-chances.

“And those players we have let off have tended to make decent scores.”