Return of the Anchor man

CRICKET:

FIVE years after leading the Saddleworth and District Cricket League to Inter-League glory, Danny Anchor is back at the helm.

He is in charge of the team which face the Manchester and District Association at Stretford CC on Sunday (1.30pm).

The opening batsman, who was playing for Saddleworth at the time, lifted the trophy after a terrific 40-run defeat of the Ribblesdale League.

Anchor has since had spells at Micklehurst and Marsden in the Drakes Huddersfield League, but is now back in the league with Moorside.

He is the only player from the class of 2005 in the XI selected by league chairman Eddie Bayliss.

Shaw’s Steve Whiston will fill the wicketkeeper’s role to complete a full house of representative honours from junior level to the senior ranks.

Also making their debuts are Heyside captain and all-rounder Nick Campbell, Steve Bird, who is enjoying a fine season with the bat at Stayley, and Austerlands top-order batsman Adam Young.

Campbell deserves his chance. He has the knack of coming good on the big occasion, playing key roles in Tanner Cup triumphs for Shaw and Heyside.

Moorside’s Lee Warburton, with almost 30 wickets to his name already this season, and Shaw’s Rick Harrington will spearhead the bowling attack, with back-up from Campbell and Glodwick’s Mark Whitehead.

With no other frontline bowler in the line-up — Hollinwood spinner Rashid Khan is on the reserve list — Anchor will probably be forced to get through nine overs of his own occasional off-spin.

The batting order will make for interesting reading as in Anchor, Whiston, Gareth Dent, Steve Firth and Francis Sutherland, the league have five players who open the batting for their respective clubs.

Greenfield pair Chris Gill and Adam Hayes, two of the brightest talents in the league, were originally in the squad, but were switched to the Colts side after an appeal by team manager Jim Bradbury.

Players from Uppermill are unavailable as they have a third-round tie in the LCB Cup at Greenmount (Bolton League), while players from Bamford Fieldhouse were not considered for the selection.

Saddleworth League: D Anchor (Moorside, capt), S Whiston (wk), F Sutherland, R Harrington (all Shaw), S Firth, N Campbell (Heyside), G Dent (Droylsden), S Bird (Stayley), Adam Young (Austerlands), L Warburton (Moorside), M Whitehead (Glodwick). Reserves: R Khan (Hollinwood), H Garg (Stayley).


TOMORROW: Ashton and Oldham Cricket Alliance, and results from the North Manchester League.