Saeed is one to watch

Church are hoping professional Saeed Anwar will help them improve on fifth place from last season in the new season which starts this weekend.

The 31-year-old Pakistan cricketer has been a most consistent all-round performer over a number of years in both the Lancashire and Central Lancashire Cricket Leagues and brings a wealth of experience to the club.

Apart from 2009, Saeed has played local league cricket since 2002.

During that time he has amassed 7,994 league runs and 470 league wickets.

As professional at Rishton Cricket Club in 2007 and 2008 he made a total of 2,933 runs and 156 wickets in just two seasons – helping them win the title in 2007.

Saeed has just completed an outstanding season in Pakistan scoring over 1,000 runs and achieving the second highest total of first class runs in the 2011 season.

Below the respective captains talk about their teams prospects in the forthcoming Lancashire League season ...

ACCRINGTON

CAPTAIN: Jimmy Hayhurst
LAST SEASON: 10th
PRO: Ashar Zaida (Pakistan)
INS: Ashley Whittaker, Marley Ali
OUTS : None

HOW DO YOU LOOK BACK ON LAST SEASON?

LAST year we under performed. We lacked a bit of luck that we got in the two previous years when we won the league, but we also brought a few younger players into the side who I’m hoping can enable those players to hit the ground running this term.

There were too many players that under performed last year and didn’t carry on from the performances in previous seasons, myself included. But it was also good to see different players perform a develop over the year.

WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS?

WE are looking to achieve our realistic potential this year.

We have a younger side with some exciting talent and the mix with the established players should push us above halfway in the table. We need key players in key positions to perform and younger players to mature. From what I have seen in the pre-season, there is a squad working and enjoying their cricket. So the signs are good.

AND THE PROFESSIONAL?

WELL he has trained with us all winter so he is already well involved with the club and the players. He seems to be very keen and looks a good player.

We are hopeful his all-round game will help us achieve as much progress as possible. His bowling will be key, the fact that he bowls seam up and spin makes him useful in different conditions. Th early signs are good

HAVE YOU STRENGTHENED THE SIDE?

YES I think we have. We have developed a few players in the seconds and we now think they can now make an impact. Marley Ali has returned to England from Australia and also Ashley Whittaker has returned from Burnley; both played junior cricket at Accrington. This boosts the squad and creates healthy competition for places.

WHO DO YOU THINK WILL BE THE TEAMS CHALLENGING FOR HONOURS THIS SEASON?

TO be honest Ramsbottom are still the strongest team in the league for me. Enfield look to have made some new signings and could do well. Nelson and East Lancs are also dark horses. In the Worsley Cup, it’s Rammy again for me. I think, though, the league could do with a shock winner to spice things up – that would go down well.

RISHTON

CAPTAIN: Jimmy Bibby
LAST SEASON: 12th
PRO: Cameron Delport (South African)
INS: Nasser Malik (Edgworth), Afaq Ali Sartaj (Clitheroe), Jennifer Laycock (Read)
OUTS: John Seedle (Settle), Tiarnan Hamill (Settle), Barry Hamilton (retired)

HOW DO YOU THINK YOUR TEAM WILL DO THIS SEASON?

OUR aim is to become more consistent and to become difficult to beat.

We have become a little bit of an easy touch at times in the recent past.

A top six finish is not beyond us however it will take a united team effort to get us to our goal.

We will not be far away in the 20/20 competition as we have proved in the past.

We have found it difficult to navigate our way out of the first round of the Worsley Cup for as long as I can remember, however if we can overcome Bacup at Lanehead you never know where it may lead and we have to take inspiration from Colne’s superlative efforts last season.

WHAT ABOUT YOUR PROFESSIONAL?

WE have signed an exciting young professional in Cameron Delport and along with the addition of left-arm spinner Afaq Ali Sartaj from Clitheroe is a massive boost to our bowling ranks.

Garth Wyse and Shaun Hutchinson have developed significantly over the past few seasons and have developed into wicket-taking bowlers.

The emergence of Matt Lambert was a massive plus last season and with the return of Scott Greaves we look to have a well-balanced bowling unit. The loss of Tiarnan Hamill is a little hard to stomach and his abilities as a batsman and wicketkeeper will be missed.

Craig (Smith), Andy (Bartley) and Chris (Lambert) will be unavailable for most of the season due to work commitments; however this provides the opportunity for others to step into the breach and prove they have the ability and character to play at this level.

WHO DO YOU THINK THE CONTENDERS FOR THE LEAGUE AND CUPS WILL BE?

It is difficult to look past Ramsbottom for the championship as they have and strength and depth in all departments in what is a quality group of players. They also have the league’s stand-out amateur in Jonny Fielding.

The surprise package this time may come from Church; Saeed Anwar Jnr is a magnificent match professional, if they start well they will not be far away come September.

20/20 is always a difficult one to predict, Nelson and Ramsbottom have the players to be the most probable winners.

However if we can navigate our way out of the group as we have in the past I believe we have an outside chance of success, although a Saeed-inspired Church will fancy their chances of going one better after going close last season.

The Worsley Cup is the most wide open competition of all due to the draw, with East Lancs v Ramsbottom and Nelson v Rawtenstall being drawn together in the first round, whoever wins those games will ultimately fancy their chances.

Church again will be contenders hoping that the big guns are taken out early as they sit out the 1st Round with a bye.

Todmorden always seem to find a way to get to the final so it would be no surprise if they end up the bridesmaid again although I suspect they will have other ideas.

ENFIELD

CAPTAIN: Adam Bracewell
LAST SEASON: 11th
PRO: Werner Coetsee
INS: Ash Gowers (Elton), Sagawat Hussain (Church) subject to approval
OUTS: Kurt Robinson (Padiham) and Amar Ullah (Great Harwood)

WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES FOR THIS SEASON?

Obviously we will be hoping for a big improvement on last season.

With Werner signing as pro and a couple of new faces at the club, it should shake things up a bit and get people fighting for their places.

We have a strong squad now of about 15 guys who can all perform at first team level, so we are positive that we will make a good account of ourselves.

I think to finish in the top four is a realistic target for us this season.

TELL US ABOUT THE NEW PROFESSIONAL

WE have heard a lot of good reports regarding Werner, both from South Africa and in the UK.

He has been in contact with the club since signing, and seems very keen to get underway with both the playing and coaching roles at the club.

He is a very good off-spin bowler, and more than handy batsman, so he should suit our side quite nicely.

ANY IN-COMINGS OR OUTGOINGS?

WE have signed Ash Gowers as our new wicketkeeper after Kirt Robinson left us over the winter to join Padiham.

And Saggi Hussain has joined us from Church. Both should be useful acquisitions and add more strength to our batting.

HOW DO YOU REFLECT ON LAST SEASON?

LAST season was a poor season for us really. But we are now looking to put that behind us, and look towards an exciting future.

I am hoping that we can make a big improvement in 2011.

WHICH DO YOU THINK WILL BE THE TEAMS TO WATCH OUT FOR?

I THINK the main contenders for the league will be Ramsbottom.

They will take some beating as they also appear to have strengthened their side over the winter after being by far the best side in the league last season.

Church, with Saeed Anwar as pro could be dangerous. East Lancs and Nelson should also be strong sides, so it will be an interesting season.

CHURCH