Rishton have re-signed Australian professional Dan Salpietro for the new Lancashire League season.
The 24-year-old wrote himself into the Rishton record books by taking all 10 wickets in a match against Rawtenstall last season and will be looking to improve on his 74 wickets and 765 runs he scored in 2012 for the Blackburn Road side.
“We are pleased to have him back,” said Rishton’s new captain Shaun Hutchinson, who has taken over from Jimmy Bibby after his retirement from cricket.
“Dan knows the lads so he should hit the ground running from the first game and he can stay the whole season.
“He did really well for us last season and we know what he is all about and him, us.
“He has still got the fire in his belly and he wants to improve the team and what we did last season.”
Hutchinson admitted it was touch and go whether Salpietro would return after he helped the Blackburn Road side finish ninth. “We offered him improved terms at the end of last season but he wanted to think about it,” said the captain.
“As time went on, we did speak to a South African professional but, when we thought that was sorted, he pulled out. It was a tough one as the South African would have missed the start and end of the Lancashire League season anyway.
“Then we looked at our former pro Andrea Agathangelou who has a contract with Lancashire.
“He was a last choice really as he could miss quite a few games with Lancashire commitments but we are still in regular contact with him and he was an option.
“But we are glad now to have Dan. I think he had hoped to have a state contract but it hasn’t worked out for him but he has a chance to come over here and play a lot of cricket.”
Hutchinson is hoping the new rules will help his side with one bowler limited to 17 overs and the rest a maximum of 14 overs.
“We have never been a team to have our pro bowl 25 overs and then an amateur bowl 25 from the the other end,” continued the captain.
“We have always shared the bowling duties, which should suggest we should do better in the Worsley Cup, but we always get knocked out in the first round!
“But we have five or six bowlers so I think it can only work in our favour and other teams may feel it more.”
Hutchinson has lost three experienced players with Bibby retiring. former captain Andy Bartley working overseas and Scott Greaves also not playing a full season.
However batsman Richard Rostron is back from Australia for the season and Ammer Ullah has joined from Great Harwood.
“I have a tough act to follow in Jimmy as captain as he did a lot for the juniors, a lot for sponsorship and I will miss his influence,” added Hutchinson, 28.
“Losing Andy, Jimmy and Scott means three experienced heads have got from the team both on and off the pitch but the return of Rick is a boost for us.”
