Young guns get chance to impress

CRICKET:

OLDHAM CC

THE retirement of Mel Whittle leaves a huge void at Oldham, but also opens the way for youngsters to make their mark.

Veteran Whittle bowed out at the Pollards after taking 100 wickets last season and skipper Chris McDonnell is looking for the club’s young talent to step up.

“There are only four of us from last season so the kids will get their chance, especially bowling,” he said.

Among those in the frame is 19-year-old medium pacer Kelvin Stevenson, who will provide back-up to Saeed Wasif, Craig Joy and new professional Kamran Hussain.

“Kelvin is a young medium pace bowler from the second-team who has looked quite good in the nets and played for the first team in a friendly at the weekend. We have picked him for Sunday’s opening game against Unsworth.”

New paid man Hussain, who made 60-plus and took a couple of wickets against Glodwick last Sunday, will be a key man for Oldham, who are also hoping to sign an overseas amateur.

McDonnell has been in contact with 19-year-old Anton Jacques Vosloo, a product of former Oldham pro Mark Charlton’s academy, and is awaiting the all-clear from the right-hand batsman and right-arm medium pace bowler.

Other than McDonnell, Wasif and Joy, the only remaining regular member of last year’s team is vice-captain Paul Thompson, who will open the batting with Zaffer Jatoi. The latter, a doctor, has taken all his exams and will play more frequently this season.

The surprise departure last weekend of Abid Fasil — rumour has it he has joined Unsworth — is a blow to Oldham’s batting, but Craig Taylor, who played a few first-team games last season, is a logical replacement.

Said McDonnell: “We are looking to finish mid-table and surprise a few big teams along the way. We beat (champions) Norden home and away last season, so the ability is there.”