Buckley in boost for Delph

DELPH head into the Drakes Huddersfield League season buoyed by the return of Greg Buckley.

The all-rounder was originally going to stay on in Australia — he spent the winter Down Under — but had a change of heart. That’s excellent news for Delph, as they hope to hit the ground running.

Buckley did a good as captain in the latter half of 2015, but because Delph thought he would be unavailable, they appointed experienced batsman Andrew Gleave instead.

The Huddersfield Road club have a couple of new faces in their ranks — overseas player Shreevats Goswami, an opening batsman from India, and Mohammed Shakir, a seam bowler.

Shakir is a familiar figure in local league circles, having mopped up plenty of wickets at Droylsden and more recently Saddleworth. Arron Lilley will play when his Lancashire commitments allow.

Delph were due to visit Barkisland tomorrow for their opening Premiership game of the season. But league officials have called off all games because of the forecast of rain and of clubs reporting unfit grounds.

Delph’s Heavy Woollen Cup first-round tie at home top Bradford League club Hanging Heaton goes ahead on Sunday.