Close encounter expected in new term
by Paul Barker, 19th April 2005

Bassetlaw Cricket League 2005 preview - Sponsored by Wilkinson Home and Garden Stores

This time last year I made a complete idiot of myself by predicting that the championship of the Bassetlaw Cricket League would be very tight and that several clubs were certainly in with a chance of lifting the trophy. How wrong could one be? From the word go Mansfield Hosiery Mills took control and turned it into a procession with all the other sides trailing in their wake.

Armed with the fact then that all the predictions went awry, it is probably a risky assumption to predict exactly the same again this term with nobody running away with the title, but that is what I aim to do, because it will be a major surprise if the same happens this time around.

Many sides look to be of an equal strength and Ladbrokes and William Hill would be facing an absolute nightmare if they had to offer odds on who they thought would win the league, so I too will sit on the fence and make no outright prediction as to where the title will end up at.

Most sides have done a bit of strengthening in the close season and a real combative struggle looks more than possible at the top and at the foot of the table. It could even be that a totally unfancied side comes through the ranks and provides a real shock, but we will have to wait and see.

Starting off this year’s review in alphabetical order is the troubled BRIDON Cricket Club who were unquestionably the team of the 1980s in this league. Bridon won the league six times between 1980 and 1988 a phenomininal success rate and had a team who in addition to being very competitive were extremely popular also.

Those days now seem a long way away, but it must be said that this is no fault of the club themselves. Bridon have been under a cloud for more than two years now because the owners of the works would like the ground to be used for development. What a sad state of affairs for such a famous club. They would seem to be living on borrowed time and as a spokesman for the club told me ‘It is very difficult to sell the Club to players when such an uncertain future is on offer’.

Having said that after suffering relegation from the Premier League in 2003, Bridon didn’t do too badly at all back in the Bassetlaw last season. They finished exactly in mid table and managed eleven straight wins which was only one less than the champions Mansfield Hosiery Mills. They had some excellent results for what was basically a young experimental side and could feel proud of their achievements.

Simon Fenwick again captains the side and they have retained the services of the young Australian quick bowler Justin Miller. Nigel Turner has joined them from Worksop and Roger Wells has rejoined the club after a spell at Wiseton. Whilst one cannot see Bridon skirting around the honours board a similar showing as they did last season would be more than a satisfactory conclusion to a side who everyone hopes can resolve its problems.

A side who had to completely rebuild last season and it must be said did a very good job of it are CUCKNEY. They spent most of the season in the top five and only some indifferent form at the finish saw them slide down to a final eighth position. In the previous season, Cuckney had built a strong side but when their coach Andrew Jackman left, virtually all the team followed him to make the side looking an odds on bet for relegation.

However some extremely shrewd dealings saw them acquire a magnificent Australian all rounder Dave Newman and his contribution of 726 runs and 59 wickets speaks for itself. The club would have dearly loved him back this season but it was not to be, but they do look to have enough ability to take care of themselves this term.

Dean Sayer is captain once again and he is joined by Richard Stroh a young South African who is expected to make an impact. In addition to this Richard Bostock has joined the club from Eckington for whom he scored 800 runs in Division 2 last season and Will Montgomery a young wicket-keeper batsman who made a big impact in his few matches last season with Cuckney will be available on a far more regular basis.

Cliff Adwick has also joined the ranks from Clumber Park and Cliff is well versed at this level after spells with Retford and Steetley in the past. Cliff has had major surgery on his hip but if he can regain the form with the ball that everyone knows he is capable of, he should prove to be a major asset.

CUTTHORPE are a side that nobody can write off and it would be a major surprise if they were not around when the honours are dished out at the end of the season. Mark Barlow is back as captain and this shrewd tactician has a ‘Cricket brain’ as wise as anyone’s.

After doubts that he wouldn’t be available the brilliant Asadullah Butt will once again be back at Cutthorpe to terrorise opposing batsmen and to score his usual quota of runs. Andy Thompson who is arguably the best opening batsmen in the league is the new vice-captain and it is hoped that Nigel Kingham whose supply of runs was badly missed last season will also be available.

In addition to these Cutthorpe also hope to have Ejaz Khan available and another bonus has arrived with the news that Andy Knowles who has gained promotion in his job and was not expected to play much if at all now looks as though he may be available for most of the games.

Chris Marples has left the club but without doubt they do look strong and will not be far away at the end of the campaign.

If Bolsover hadn’t been docked points for a player’s indiscretion on the field, EDWINSTOWE would be playing their cricket in Division 2 this season! They have made massive overtures in the close season to make sure there is no repeat of the scares of last season and look to have ‘come up trumps’ with the signing of Pakistani Asif Zakir who should provide them with a massive boost.

This player has played in the highest grade of cricket in Pakistan and looks to be a real diamond. In addition to this Australian Garth Brown is again available as he has now resided in this country long enough to qualify under the league’s rules.

More recruitment has arrived in the form of Alan and Paul Peacock from Ollerton and it is also hoped that former Blidworth skipper Lee Wilson will be available when his football commitments dictate. John Garnham who proved a very popular skipper with the players last term continues with the role.

A much better season looks to be on the cards for Edwinstowe and a mid-table position looks possible. However if Asif Zakir is as good as or better than his form appears to be don’t be surprised if they finish even higher.

Andrew Edwards continues as skipper at FARNSFIELD and this side that until the latter stages of last season had been the height of inconsistency began at last to reveal the massive potential which is at their disposal.

Make no mistake Farnsfield at their best can match anyone. They are certainly a huge ‘dark horse’ for the title and if they play to their maximum strength it will take a good side to finish above them. New Zealander Mark Silcock is back once again and if he takes over 50 wickets again he will be a problem for most sides. Mark also showed his batting is far from limited scoring a century for the club in the latter stages of the 2004 season against Blidworth.

As well as that Elliot Hind who is arguably the best young wicket-keeper in the league has joined them from Blidworth and should make a real impact. Paul Franks will also play when available and with players of the calibre of Paul Delaney, Phil Creswell and James Bennett in their ranks the side does look strong.

The one ‘blip’ on the horizon is that Keith Miller their excellent slow bowler has decided to retire, but the club have not yet given up hope that he will change his mind. Ignore Farnsfield at your peril, they won’t be far away.

After several season’s of successfully fighting off relegation GLAPWELL became an extremely difficult to side to beat last season and finished an extremely respectable sixth in the table. This was mainly due to the captaincy of New Zealander Andy Smith who unfortunately has had to return home through promotion in his job and another Kiwi Ian O’Brien who recently made his ‘Test’ debut for his country against Australia.

O’Brien takes over the reins as captain and will once again be a major threat to everyone after taking 67 wickets at just 11.78 last season. As well as this he also scored over 300 runs for his side to complete a superb first season for them. In addition to O’Brien, Glapwell will also have Matthew Hall available all season and this pair will certainly represent the most hostile opening attack in the Division.

They have also been joined by Chris Barrett another medium pacer who has been playing for Underwood in the South Notts. League and Mohammed Agshad a quality batsman and a more than useful off spin bowler. Many of the usual stalwarts Dean Graney, Nick Bircumshaw and Nick Truswell will also be available and this is another side who won’t be too far away when the season ends.

It was somewhat of a surprise when KILLAMARSH were relegated at the end of the 2003 season but not much of one when they were promoted straight back at the end of 2004. The side is captained by Parmindar Mudhar and will have the services of a young South African all rounder Henrik Langveldt Basson in the new season.

Basson has played in an extremely high grade so he is expected to do well. In addition to him Sam Malpass and wicket-keeper batsman Paul Burdett are without question two of the most talented young players in the league and both are expected to do well. Malpass has already shown Division 1 holds no fears for him and it is expected that Burdett will do just the same.

In addition to these, stalwarts such as Pete and David Allen, Rodney Cook and the ‘Prodigal Son’ Adrian Rivington make up a side who could ‘shock’ one or two when they least expect it. Killamarsh look better equipped than when they went up last time and it would be a surprise if they didn’t manage to consolidate this campaign.

If there is such a thing as a favourite in this season it might be KIVETON PARK who finished third in the table last campaign. They have however lost two major players in Adam Burgess the brilliant young left hander who scored 835 runs at 41.75 last season and the veteran slow bowler Ian Thompson who has decided to hang up his boots.

Burgess has reluctantly decided that he needs to play in the Premier League and has joined Staveley Welfare and he will certainly be a huge loss to the Kiveton Park club. They have been joined by Peter Colbourne an Australian who has arrived highly recommended by Steve Frost another Aussie who served the club with great distinction over two seasons.

Rob Coxon continues as skipper and in Richard Spurr and Kyle McKeeman they have an excellent new ball attack. With players of the calibre of Lee Brooks and Phil Cooper in their ranks as well as Coxon they should score plenty of runs but the loss of Burgess and the crafty slow bowling of Thompson will be missed very badly.

The other promoted club are the Gainsborough side MARSHALLS who were champions of Division 2 last season. They are skippered this season by Tim Down an Australian who has spent considerable time in this country and has played for the club for the last two seasons. They have recruited a young Australian by the name of Glen Talorica who hails from Geelong and he is a top graded player who is a capable batsman and a slow left arm bowler.

In addition to this the side who have been knocking on the promotion door without quite getting there for some time, have some extremely good players in Mark Davies, Chris Hearn and two highly precocious talented youngsters in the Andrews brothers Liam and Greg.

One problem on the horizon for them is that last season’s victorious captain Kevin Housham and his brother Matt have quit. Whilst Matt is useful, Kevin is a huge loss and one the club could have done without. They face a big task and could well struggle but we will have to wait and see.

At the start of last season NOTTS. & ARNOLD AMATEUR merged from the old Arnold and Notts. Amateur clubs. It looked a tremendous move at the start with the side carrying everything before them in the first eight matches but after being defeated by Cuckney on the first Saturday of June the wheels fell off big style.

Although they finished second in the league they lost an incredible eight matches and their form from June onwards represented a relegation haunted side. Of course they are a much better outfit than that but it was alarming they way they slumped. Peter Evans continues as skipper and Leigh Baldry a cultured right hand batsman from Melbourne, Australia will be joining them.

Stalwarts such as Ian Flood and wicket keeper Bill Trewartha will be available once again but they have lost two important players with Julian Thornhill who had a magnificent season last year moving with his job to live in Leeds and Don Leiper retiring.

This side looks to be a real mystery and as a spokesman told me ‘We didn’t think that so many players from the old Notts. Amateur days would leave and it has decreased our playing strength considerably’. On paper it looks impossible to gauge where this side will finish it is a case of wait and see.

A side who richly deserved to take their first major honour when they lifted the Tomlin Trophy last season was THORESBY COLLIERY. This workmanlike side are capable of beating anyone on their day and when one considers they beat Mansfield Hosiery Mills twice out of three matches last season and should have won all three it shows what they are capable of.

They are once again captained by Martin Cheshire who scored a massive 855 runs last season and has quality written right through him. He is joined by David Irvine a young batsman from Zimbabwe and another young player Richard Hope who was born in Portsmouth but has lived in Australia and Sri Lanka .

As well as these, the side is very much the same although it is hoped that Steve Willis will be available more this season than last. Nigel Burkitt is an excellent wicket-keeper and Naeem Ahmed and Shailesh Patel will share the donkey work with the ball.

If anything Thoresby look a little lightweight with the ball but the side still looks strong enough to challenge the best. Nick Bradshaw has also joined them this season and he was another player from the old Mansfield Colliery side, but if they had a real cutting edge all the other sides could be looking out. This is a good side that are just boiling under the surface.

The final side in this Division 1 round-up is WORKSOP and the Central Avenue side is basically the same as last season. Worksop have a new captain in Steve Bentley who is a more than useful all rounder and should prove to be an inspirational choice.

Their New Zealand born opening bowler Brad Moore is now settled in this country and will be available once again as will Jamil Hassan who is a very talented batsman who should at his best, score a stack of runs. The side were disappointing last season after starting the campaign full of hope and they finished nearer the bottom than the top.

They are better than that and with good players of the calibre of Tim Ward who is the new vice-captain. Glen Pym and Paul Burton who is one of the best slow bowlers in the league at their disposal they have no excuse for the inconsistency which almost cost them dear at the end of last season.

Well there we are and I am sure that nobody is any wiser than me on who is going to lift the Division 1 championship trophy at the end of the season. It looks like being one of the most competitive seasons for some time and I don’t see the interest waning until the middle of September.