Bullseye!

BAT MAN: Phil Taylor shows off his new willow, made by CJI Cricket in Bournemouth.

CRICKET:

MARK Ingham has pinned his faith in Phil Taylor and with a new bat in hand, has responded in some style.

When looking for a new opening batsman the Shaw captain turned to the wicketkeeper (36) - who has been accumulating plenty of runs in the middle order.

It has so far proved the perfect fit for both as Taylor has continued his impressive form and the skipper has found a partnership which can lay a solid foundation at the top of the order.

Ingham is more than happy, and said: “Tom Needham was struggling a little bit, so we decided to change things round by using Phil. He had been in decent form and our thinking was that we had nothing to lose.

“And we can’t fault what he has done. He has taken his chance and he reckons it is a lot to do with his new bat, which was custom-made and seems to work pretty well for him.”

Taylor’s best performance this season with the bat was his lastest effort, 101 against Micklehurst last Saturday — his maiden ton in first XI cricket.

Before that he made 33 against reigning champions Bamford Fieldhouse, 34 at home to Stayley in the Twenty20 competition and 65 at home to Hollinwood.

The bat he uses weighs three and a half pounds and has so far proved very effective.

Taylor said: “It is designed for T20 and is incredibly heavy, with thicker edges and a bigger middle — it is for sloggers, which suits my game really!

“I’m 36 now so this has been a long time in coming to bat this far up the order, but I’m pleased how it has gone so far.

“When I was coming in lower down I used to shut my eyes and swing the bat. Now it’s my job to help build an innings and I’m enjoying it.”



WHALLEY Range has agreed in principle to join the Saddleworth and District Cricket League in 2014.

The club has accepted the league’s invitation, though details still need to be ironed out.

Member clubs voted 14-0 at the last monthly meeting to approve Whalley’s application.

Swinton Moorside will NOT be joining Whalley from the Manchester and District Association.

They decided to switch to the Bolton Association, one of four clubs from the MDA to make the move. Winton, Worsley and Lostock are the other three.

League officials were due for talks with Swinton, but that meeting has been cancelled.