Lees ponders his future at the Paddock

CRICKET: ROYTON believe the four players who refused to play for the first team against Walsden last Saturday have “let down” the Paddock club.

And, unless the selection committee is told otherwise, three of the four who have not made contact will be considered unavailable for selection.

The four players - ex-skipper Gareth Lees, opening batsman Simon Brierley, and bowlers Ryan Mayes and Andrew Westphal – missed Royton’s defeat at Walsden in which John Punchard was the first team’s fourth captain of a rocky campaign. They were replaced by four second-team players.

Royton cricket secretary and selection committee member Bernard Wade said: “Only Gaz Lees has made contact with the club to say he was not happy with the decision to appoint John Punchard as captain.

“He said he did not like what he (Punchard) said in your paper and feels, at this stage, that he wants to consider his position at the club and is therefore unavailable this weekend.

“We thanked him for standing in as captain and respectfully await his decision as to his future.

“As for the other three, no contact has been made and we assume they are still unavailable for selection.

“We are quite open to dialogue, but their continued silence leaves us with no other assumption.”


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