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UPPERMILL'S new bowler, Imran Aslam

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Team-by-team guide to the 2011 Saddleworth Cricket League season

Droylsden
Captain: Michael Schofield

Professional: None

Overseas amateur: None

MICHAEL Schofield, the Droylsden captain, is looking to improve on the excellent fifth-place finish in 2010.

The 29-year-old relies on the same bunch of players, with the addition of left-arm spinner Solly Raja, who had a spell at Ashton in the CLL, and Jonathan Lees, son of last season’s professional, David.

Lees jnr bowls off-spin. A student at Huddersfield University, he has played most of his recent cricket over the tops.

However, Lees snr has undergone a knee operation — he was hurt in a skiing accident — and is expected to be sidelined until the end of June.

Schofield, Aquib Uppal and Gareth Dent — who each scored in excess of 600 runs last season — form the top three, while Saif Ur Rehman, Mohammed Shakir and Wasim Quasim make up the main pace threat.


Friarmere
Captain: Gary Kershaw

Professional: Josh Butler (Australia)

Overseas amateur: Zafar Iqbal (Pakistan)

HAVING spent a season as Werneth professional in the CLL, Darren Shadford returns to the Saddleworth League amateur ranks at Friarmere.

The former Bamford Fieldhouse and Delph player will open the innings alongside promising youngster Umar Jaqub.

With Zafar Iqbal, the vastly-experienced overseas amateur, in at three, followed by Darren Graham and Asif Qayyum, the West View outfit should rack up plenty of runs.

Gary Kershaw (40) retains the captaincy after taking on in the second half of last season, while Josh Butler is back as pro.

The Australian left-arm orthodox spinner did well in his debut season, claiming 57 wickets at 17.0.

Danny Meehan steps up from the second team — he was captain last year — to open the bowling alongside another left-armer, James Allott.



Glodwick
Captain: Nigel Stock

Professional: Rehan Rafiq (Pakistan)

Overseas amateur: Aneese Ur-Rehman (Pakistan)

REHAN Rafiq faces a stiff task in 2011 — trying to fill the boots of Uppermill-bound Imran Aslam.

Glodwick have turned to Rafiq, the popular former Stayley professional, as a replacement for his fellow Pakistani, who weighed in with more than 250 wickets and scored in excess of 2,000 runs in three seasons at Warren Lane.

Rehan is a more reliable batsman, but Glodwick’s bowling attack is weaker for Aslam’s departure.

Instead, captain Nigel Stock will require Mark Whitehead, Imran Asghar, Shahid Mahmood, left-arm spinner Imran Khan and young quick bowler Bilal Malik to show their worth.

They do have an overseas amateur in Aneese Ur-Rehman. The 28-year-old all-rounder has spent the last couple of years in America, where apparently he has played more
baseball than cricket!

Batsman Stuart Fitton has returned to Middleton.

Glodwick have improved their finishing position year-on-year since entering the league in 2007 — they qualified for the LCB Cup for the first time after claiming fourth last term — and Stock’s challenge now is to consolidate their position.



Greenfield
Captain: Jonathan Ainley

Professional: None

Overseas amateur: Rahul Panta (India)

THE loss of Chris Gill to Broad Oak — the wicketkeeper hit an unbeaten 157 on his Huddersfield League debut — is tempered somewhat by the capture of overseas amateur Rahul Panta.

The Indian, who bowls quick and bats near the top of the order, has played cricket in the south of the country.

Gill’s place behind the stumps goes to another new signing, 18-year-old James Rothwell from Werneth.

Skipper Jonathan Ainley is looking for the younger players in his side to step up to the plate.

The promising bunch includes Josh Higgins, who hit 93 in a friendly against Werneth, and all-rounder Liam Parfitt.

Higgins is on Sussex’s books, while Parfitt is also a keen rugby league player and is attached to Warrington Wolves.



HEYSIDE
Captain: Nick Campbell

Professional: Roelof Hugo (South Africa)

Overseas amateur: Bromwell Goeda (South Africa)

APART from the signing of new overseas amateur Bromwell Goeda, it is a case of as you were at Little Hey Street.

The young South African, recommended by pro Roelof Hugo, is a swing bowler and middle-order batsman.

Nick Campbell, who takes charge again, is challenging his side to improve on their efforts of 12 months ago.

He said: “Second place and winning the Twenty20 Cup represented a relatively successful season, but we must take another step up.”

With prolific run-scorer and slick wicketkeeper Hugo here for the start of the season — the paid man missed the opening couple of games last term because of commitments in South Africa — Heyside will look to hit the ground running in their bid for the title.

But they are far from a one-man band, with the likes of Stuart Moore, John Selby, Liam Garnett, Ben Holt, Steven Firth , Mark Barnes and Campbell himself in the line-up.



SADDLEWORTH
Captain: Steven Howard

Professional: Peter Skuse (Australia)

Overseas amateur: Michael Jones (Australia)

LAST season did not entirely go to plan at Well-i-Hole. Skuse stepped down as skipper partway through, overseas amateur Matt Diedrich failed to show and the team finished up third from bottom - 12 months after they had come third from top.

Captain Steve Howard (43) is expecting his team to be among the leading four or five this time round.

Teenager Michael Jones, who hails from Tasmania, is the overseas amateur. Recommended by Delph's Bruce Cruse, the 18-year-old Australian will keep wicket.

Steve Holmes is fit again after recovering from a shoulder injury which curtailed his 2010 campaign and Matt Cook, who has represented Cambridge University, is available from July to boost a batting line-up which also includes Ian Hague, Danny Hesford and Ben Willis. Brian Lord, last term's second-team captain, steps up to the firsts.

The only downside is that batsman Adam Lavin is already out for the season after partially severing tendons in a hand,



SHAW
Captain: Andy Young

Professional: Khurram Shehzad (Pakistan).

Overseas amateur: Jawad Hameed (Pakistan).

ANDY Young, elder brother of Austerlands captain Adam, takes the reins at Holebottom Clough in 2011.

And he has a new professional at his disposal in Khurram Shehzad. The Pakistani scored more than 1,000 runs for Rainhill in their promotion to the Liverpool Competition in 2008.

A level-two ECB qualified coach, he has also had experience in the Bradford League.

Overseas amateur Jawad Hameed is another new face. A former pro in the south for Cockfosters and Marlow, he bowls off-spin and bats in the middle order.

Young (28) said: “I’m happy with the pro, who is a guaranteed run-scorer, and overseas player and, if they hit their straps, I can see us in the top three or four.”

Batsman Gareth Harrop will step down to skipper the seconds this season, and he will be joined by bowler Richard Doherty.

After recovering from injury, bowler Kane Fullalove is expected to make his presence felt in the firsts.


STAYLEY
Captain: Steve Bird

Professional: JP Lee (South Africa)

Overseas amateur: None

WICKETKEEPER Oram Simms is back at Stayley, who are led by Bird for the first time.

Simms spent 2010 away from Millbrook, but his return is a timely boost for both the fielding and batting as he is capable of scoring big runs at the top of the order.

He will be joined by Paul Barrow in opening the innings after the left-hander's switch from Micklehurst. Medium pacer Ben Downend has also made the leap from the Castle Lane outfit, but Stayley regulars Ronnie Cameron, Ronnie Rashford and Paul Littlewood have moved on.

The professional's position is filled by JP Lee, who replaces Usman Malvi. The South African was hampered by injury at Moorside last season. He scored just over 500 runs and claimed 37 wickets in 21 appearances.

“We're going from being an over-40s side to one where the average age is under 30,” said Bird. “These are exciting times and I'm looking forward to getting to grips with the challenge.”



UPPERMILL
Captain: Alex Griffiths

Professional: Imran Aslam (Pakistan)

Overseas amateur: None

GLODWICK’S loss is Uppermill’s gain after Imran Aslam agreed to be the Leafields outfit’s paid man in 2011.

A prolific wicket-taker — he can also be a destructive batsman — the Pakistani is a great acquisition.

Along with the Saddleworth League homecoming of Adam Robinson — the left-armer moved from Greenfield to Barkisland several years ago — skipper Alex Griffiths looks certain to fulfil his ambition of a top-four finish.

Robinson is expected to open the bowling with Mark Lees, who comes here from a winter playing cricket in South Africa.

With Andy McVeigh, Michael Brooks, Matt Taylor, Nathan Boote and James Baron in the ranks, Uppermill could be Bamford’s closest challengers this season.



HOLLINWOOD
Captain: Mudassar Butt

Professional: Ahmed Butt (Pakistan)

Overseas amateur: None

A NEW chapter in the history of Hollinwood will be written this season.

The death of professional Aamir Bashir in December at the age of 38 left a huge void at Lime Lane.

But his memory will live on, especially following the acquisition of wicketkeeper-batsman Ahmed Butt.

The fellow Pakistani was recommended by Bashir as a future professional, and the 30-year-old will get the chance to impress his new employers this season.

For Butt, who plays for Solkiaot Stallions in the domestic four-day competition in Pakistan, it will be his first time in the country.

Two familiar names are back in the Hollinwood fold after a year away — batsmen Mudassar Butt, who will lead the side, and former captain John Winterbottom.

Shakeel Saddique will also bolster the batting line-up, while medium pacer Mohammed Shazad is expected to play more of a role this year.

Shahzad Sadaqat has retired because of work commitments.


MOORSIDE
Captain: Lloyd Kingston

Professional: Qaser Rashid (Pakistan)

Overseas amateur: Lloyd Kingston (South Africa)

THREE familiar names have returned to Turf Pit Lane — Qaser Rashid, who takes over from JP Lee as club professional, batsman Francis Sutherland and bowler Glen McFadyean.

Rashid helped Moorside to Tanner Cup final success in 2000 and the league title 12 months later, scoring more than 1,000 runs in both seasons.

Sutherland threatened to quit cricket altogether after standing down as Moorside captain in 2009.

“I’m tempted to burn my kit, because I don’t think I’ll be needing it again,” he said at the time.

However, he played for Shaw last season and is now back at Moorside.

Pretoria-born Kingston (25) remains as skipper and, with a top order featuring Danny Anchor, Richard Baines, Rashid, Sutherland, Entwistle and himself, there should be no shortage of runs.



AUSTERLANDS
Captain: Adam Young

Professional: Humayun Farhat (Pakistan)

Overseas amateur: None

FORMER Werneth professional Humayun Farhat, brother of Pakistani Test player Imran, takes the role of paid man at Austerlands in 2011.

The 26-year-old's cavalier approach to batting should be entertaining to watch at Nursery Fields, but his gung-ho style means his team-mates will also need to chip in as well.

Farhat can also keep wicket, although Mark Peters is expected to fill the gloves, with the pro likely to be called upon to bowl medium pace.

The attack will also feature Dave Oldfield — the useful left-armer seamer only played a handful of matches in 2010 because of other commitments — and teenager Andrew Cadd, who is stepping up from the second XI. Another youngster, Jack Stanton, will open the batting.

Skipper Young said: "Our aim is to be competitive. I want us to work hard as a team, and I will give the younger players a chance to prove themselves."



BAMFORD FIELDHOUSE
Captain: Paddy McKeown

Professional: Grant Hodnett

Overseas amateur: None

WITH Stephen Parry on Lancashire duty for much of the summer, Bamford Fieldhouse have turned to Grant Hodnett as their professional.

The ex-Gloucestershire opener - he spent four seasons at the first-class county until his release in 2009 - was born in Johannesburg, but holds a British passport.

Hodnett (29) admitted to have suffered from a stress-related illness in 2008, similar to that of Somerset’s ex-England batsman Marcus Trescothick.

A prolific run-scorer for Cheltenham in the West of England Premier League, he only made fleeting first-team appearances in 2009, and was then overlooked by coach John Bracewell when, in a radio interview, he claimed he felt “under-used” by Gloucester and also criticised arch rivals Somerset.

leg injury

Hodnett struck an unbeaten 137 for Bamford in a warm-up game against Cheshire League side Neston last weekend.

Neil Williams is also new to Bamford. The ex-Bootle player will take over behind the stumps as Jason Maher is nursing a leg injury. Maher is still expected to sign for the reigning champions, though.

Ex-Lancashire and England ’keeper Warren Hegg has signed again, but will be used as a batsman only when available.

Bamford, who are aiming for a fifth straight title, will start the season on minus 20 points after being found guilty of failing to control their players at Moorside last year.



UPPERMILL
Captain: Alex Griffiths

Professional: Imran Aslam (Pakistan)

Overseas amateur: None

GLODWICK’S loss was Uppermill’s gain after Imran Aslam agreed to be the Leafields outfit’s paid man in 2011.

A prolific wicket-taker — he can also be a destructive batsman — the Pakistani is a great acquisition.

Along with the Saddleworth League homecoming of Adam Robinson — the left-armer moved from Greenfield to Barkisland several years ago — skipper Alex Griffiths looks certain to fulfil his ambition of a top-four finish.

Robinson is expected to open the bowling with Mark Lees, who comes here from a winter playing cricket in South Africa.

With Andy McVeigh, Michael Brooks, Matt Taylor, Nathan Boote and James Baron in the ranks, Uppermill could be Bamford’s closest challengers this season.


First-day fixtures
THE 2011 Armstrongs office Furniture Saddleworth and District Cricket League season gets under way on Sunday.

Fixtures:

Friarmere v Bamford Fieldhouse; Glodwick v Droylsden; Greenfield v Uppermill; Heyside v Austerlands; Moorside v Hollinwood; Shaw v Saddleworth. Open date: Stayley.