End of an era as veteran Mel calls it a day

FAMILIAR SIGHT . . . Oldham stalwart Mel Whittle traps another victim in the CLL.

CRICKET: EVERGREEN Oldham bowler Mel Whittle is to hang up his cricketing boots at the end of the season.

At the age of 63 and with 49 years of local league cricket behind him, the veteran has decided on a change of sport.

“I have had enough of cricket and am going to play some golf with my son Tom,” said Mel.

“It’s not a question of age. When I played in the Bolton League there were lots of good professionals and amateurs, but the CLL is dominated by six teams these days and is not as competitive.

“I will be staying on at Oldham as groundsman and chairman of the cricket section, though, and I will do anything I can to help the club.”

Whittle’s exit from the game will mark the end of a remarkable cricketing career which has seen him take over 1,400 CLL wickets since he first broke into the Crompton team as a 14-year-old during Oldham Wakes.

A feature of Whittle’s game has been his ability to bowl lengthy spells and CLL matches have often seen him send down 25 overs unchanged.

This season he has been as successful as ever, snaring 82 victims.

He needs 18 more wickets from his remaining four matches to reach three figures - “that would be a nice way to finish” - and his final game will be on Sunday, September 12, at home to Middleton.