Aiming to overcome pre-season losses

Cricket:

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CROMPTON have suffered setbacks with the loss of key players during the build-up to the new season.

Last year’s professional Simon Wright has returned to Bamford in the Saddleworth League, while Danny Cashin has gone back to Heyside and Dave Roberts has joined Uppermill.

A season that promised much for captain Carl Taylor has suddenly changed to one of hope rather than expectation.

He said: “It is disappointing to lose players so close to the start of the season.

“But we still have good players and we will be doing our best to push for promotion.”

Two of those players, overseas amateur Denis Louis (West Indies) and new professional Michael Pote (South Africa) will miss the opening game at Monton and Weaste because of commitments to their clubs back home.

Both will arrive in England soon.

Louis had an excellent season in 2012, while Cape Town-born Pote, a left-hander, is expected to make plenty of runs.

Darren Graham has returned to the club from Friarmere and will bolster the batting, and the likes of Danny Taylor, ex-Thornham skipper Andy Yates and Steven Wright will be looking to chip in with valuable runs, along with young left-hander Sam Rigby.

On the bowling front, the captain and Ryan Mayes will open the attack, with back-up from Yates, Danny Taylor and the professional with his right-arm spin.

Louis will wear the wicket-keeper’s gloves, although veteran Alan Whiston will be behind the stumps this weekend for a fixture which will also see another club stalwart, Glenn Rigby, opening the innings in the absence of the overseas amateur.