IN DIVISION 1 of the Greater Manchester Cricket League there is a huge level of expectation at Stayley.
After relegation from the Championship in 2021 it was a troubled campaign last year. Struggling through the season they only averted the drop into Division 2 on the penultimate weekend.
The Oxford Street club reacted immediately and within a month of the season ending had made a real statement of intent. 3 key members of the Denton St Lawrence Premier Division team made the trip across Tameside.
Consistently amongst the leading all-rounders in the league, Scott Kirwin is a major capture. Averaging around 700 runs and 40 wickets a season in his time at Sycamore Park he will be a huge presence for Staley.
He will be joined by Liam Parkinson who makes the same move as does Wasim Qasim. Parkinson regularly notched around 650 runs a season in his time at DSL. Seam bowler Qasim will boost the Stayley attack.
Stayley have also ventured overseas and signed Sri Lankan Rajeewa Weerasinghe as their professional. He has previous UK experience with Darlington in the North Yorkshire & South Durham Premier League.
The 35-year-old right hand bat and off spinner made his first-class debut back in 2006 and has featured regularly in Sri Lankan domestic 1st class, limited overs and T20 cricket.
The quality of these acquisitions clearly mark Stayley out as a contender for honours in Division 1. They will look to get off the mark on April 22nd with a home game against Golborne. Their two encounters in 2022 saw honours shared with a win each. The following day they visit DCCL team Birch Vale in the opening round of the National Village Cup.