Howzat for a deputy pro?

JAMIE HOW displays the technqiue which earned him a Test-match place

CRICKET:

ROYTON will be without Luke Procter for their John Willie Lees Wood Cup semi-final showdown with Walsden, but club officials have acted swiftly to secure the services of a top replacement.

New Zealand Test right-hand batsman Jamie How, currently paid man for Kendal in the Northern League, will play for Royton at the Paddock on Sunday in a match the club considers to be its most important for many years.

And the 30-year-old, captain of Central Districts in New Zealand, goes into the semi-final in prime form, having hit an unbeaten 157 for Kendal in their victory over Fleetwood on Saturday. He also scored 131 against Morecambe the previous weekend.

Procter is expected to be required for Lancashire in a t20 match against Derbyshire on Sunday.

And, in an ironic twist of fate, that could mean the all-rounder facing Chesney Hughes, who made a huge contribution as deputy professional for Procter in Royton’s Wood Cup quarter-final victory over Norden.

Procter’s absence on Sunday prompted Royton to look for a high-quality replacement and How certainly fitted the bill.

He averages 22.70 in the rarefied atmosphere of Test cricket and 29.05 in one-day internationals.

His record for Kendal is impressive.

In 13 league matches, he is averaging 51.18, while four cup games have produced an average of 79.33.

Although batting is his forte, How will also provide Royton skipper Alan Durose with a valuable off spin option.

Recent pitches at the Paddock have yielded turn, so How could feasibly be as important with the ball as with the bat.