Cricket clubs forced to wait for season start

ELEVEN of Tameside’s cricket clubs must wait a little longer for the beginning of the Graeter Manchester Cricket League season.

Officials confirmed the opening batch of fixtures has been delayed until Saturday, April 27 because of issues caused by heavy rainfall over the past few months.

However, that is not to say activity has ground to a halt behind the scenes – quite the contrary, with several clubs engaging in clean-up activities to ensure their homes are in perfect condition ahead of what will hopefully be a warm, uninterrupted summer of action.

The GMCL’s Saturday competition is formed of two Premier Divisions, four Championship Divisions and six regional leagues.

Micklehurst Cricket Club

That is not to mention the weekly fixtures scheduled to take place on Sundays, which will cater for third teams across nine divisions.

Excitement is certainly building for a variety of reasons – especially for the borough’s leading clubs in Denton West and Flowery Field, who will be flying the flag at the summit of the pyramid in Premier One.

West will be embarking on their third season in the division following promotion in 2021.

And they will be turning to South African professional Jordan Hermann as a source of a batting power and top-class experience, as the 22-year-old plays for The Warriors in first-class and limited over matches.

Hermann takes over the paid role from Jomel Warrican, a West Indian test spinner who featured for the Windsor Road outfit last year.

Eyes will also be drawn to Callum Flynn and Jordan Williams, both of whom featured for the England Physical Disability team in India during winter. Flynn captained the side which narrowly lost the series 3-2.

West open their season with a trip to Westhoughton, who were promoted from Premier Two in their first season in the GMCL in 2023.

As for Flowery Field, the Throstle Bank outfit will aim to build on the foundations they established during their debut season in Premier One last year.

Securing a ninth-place finish, the club avoided the drop by just four points and will now be looking to right the wrongs of 2023.

They will be helped in their aims by the return of Fergus Lellman, a professional from New Zealand, who returns to the club for a second spell.

Droylsden Cricket Club

Lellman featured heavily with the bat last season, scoring 600 runs and taking 45 wickets. He joins the club in great spirits, having recently scored 202 for Northern Districts in his home country. Flowery open their season with a home tie against Woodbank.

The Correspondent previews the remaining clubs’ first XIs below:

PREMIER TWO

DENTON ST LAWRENCE

Last season: The 2019 league and cup double winners were relegated from Premier One – 2024 is the first time they have been outside the top division.

Player news: Mark Dilnutt returns after a season away at Dukinfield

Opening game: Brooksbottom (h – 27/4)

 

CHAMPIONSHIP

MOTTRAM

Last season: 4th in the Championship

Professional: Tafadwza Tsiga (Zimbabwe). Returns for a third season at Mottram. More than 800 runs and a useful 25 wickets last year.  Made his test debut for Zimbabwe against West Indies two months ago.

Members of Mottram Cricket Club

Opening game: Glodwick (h – 27/4)

The Correspondent recently featured an in-depth article on the club’s preparations, ambitions and plans to renovate the social club, as seen here.

 

DIVISION ONE

DROYLSDEN, Dukinfield and Stayley will be battling it out for the honours. They will be joined by Woodley, who have moved from the Derbyshire and Cheshire League.

It will be interesting to see how Woodley adapt, given Mottram made the same decision a few seasons ago and have enjoyed success as a result.

DROYLSDEN

Last season: Finished fourth and were agonisingly only a point behind promoted Austerlands.

Player news: Adam Stansfield, previously with Elton and Walshaw, moves across Greater Manchester

Opening game: Whalley Range (a – 27/4)

The Correspondent featured an article with first team captain Cameron Mapstone, who spoke of his frustration at being pipped to promotion last season, while outlining the changes that have been made to go one step further in 2024. It can be seen here.

DUKINFIELD

Last season: Relegated from the Championship in a campaign where one more win would have seen them safe.

Stalybridge cricket club

Professional: Rameez Alam returns to Higher King Street for a second season.  Despite the team struggling he contributed well with more than 900 runs.

Opening game: Milnrow (h – 27/4) – a visit from a team who finished mid-table last year

STAYLEY

Last season: In the league, after bringing in a number of talented players – INCLUDING Scott  Kirwin, Liam Parkinson and Kamran Basharat – managed a fifth-place finish and perhaps underachieved.

Player news: Mike Burns – professional at Flowery Field for three years and more recently at Tottington – will bring a significant all-round ability. Asif Zakir joins with a lot of experience as professional at Elton, Austerlands Greenmount, Bury and Daisy Hill. There were also indications that Casey Roche – 500 runs and 60+ wickets in a struggling Denton team last year – could be making the move to Oxford Street.

Opening game: Hadfield (h – 27/4)

Having reached the semi-final of the National Village Cup in 2023 they will be looking to go one better and start the road to Lords with a home tie against Hawk Green on April 28.

Staley Cricket Club members

DIVISION TWO

MICKLEHURST

Last season: Sixth in Division Two.

Player news: Rizwan Hussain, a regular at Micklehurst for last four years, who scored 3,500 runs and 130 wickets in that time, has moved to Milnrow and will be a big loss.  Lewis Daniel will be moving to Mottram.

Opening game: Darcy Lever (h – 27/4)

The Correspondent featured Micklehurst captain Andy Pearson, who outlined the club’s vision for a more visible, sustainable future.

 

DIVISION THREE

ASHTON

Last season: After chasing Worsley for the title most of the season, the Reyner Lane outfit subsided in the last month to finish fourth – a deflating end to the campaign for all associated with the club.

Professional: Vishva Chathuranga, a Sri Lankan, just had two successful seasons at Caverswall in the North Staffordshire & South Cheshire League. He has an excellent record in domestic Sri Lankan competitions. He replaces Ruam Ahmed who has relocated to Kent.

Player news; Zubair Khan, who played for Ashton in 2016 when they reached the Tanner Cup Final, returns after a few years at Crompton in the Lancashire League.

Opening game: Adlington (H – 27/4)

 

DIVISION FOUR EAST

ASHTON  LADYSMITH

Last season: Runners up in Division 4E – but only the champions Woodhouses were promoted so this year marks their second at this level.

Opening game: Friends United (h – 27/4)

DENTON

Last season: Relegated from Division Three – in the regional competition for the first time.

Player News: As of yet, there has been little indication as to player arrivals or departures. The Correspondent has reached out to Denton for clarification.

Opening game: Glossop 2nd XI ( h – 27/4)

 

DIVISION FIVE EAST

This division will be comprised, among others, of second teams from Denton, Dukinfield, Flowery Field, Ashton and Stayley.