All systems go!

BEN HOLT: leads Heyside.

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CRICKET:

AFTER weeks of snow and ice, the Versasteel Saddleworth and District Cricket League is set to get under way on time.

At 1.45pm on Sunday, the new season will start with 14 clubs bidding for silverware glory over, what everyone hopes, the next five sun-drenched months.

In the first part of a two-part preview (more tomorrow), KEVIN RICHARDSON looks at Austerlands to Heyside.



Austerlands

Captain: Adam Young, Professional: Imran Aslam (Pakistan); Overseas amateur: TBC; Last season: 13th



WITH 126 wickets at an average of 9.1, Imran Aslam spearheaded Uppermill’s charge to the 2011 title.

Two years on, the Pakistani leg-spin bowler has swapped Leefields for Nursery Fields, though this season he will be restricted to 15 overs an innings by new rules.

“We are very pleased,” said captain Adam Young. “With Imran leading the way, there is a realistic chance of qualifying for next season’s LCB Cup.”

Left-arm seamer Dave Oldfield is back at Austerlands after a short spell at Uppermill, and with Andrew Cadd and Michael Lockett, there is no shortage of options with the ball.

But what about the batting department?

“Everyone has to knuckle down and chip in with some runs,” added Young, who will also call on his brother Andy, who has returned to Austerlands from a stint as Shaw captain.



Bamford Fieldhouse

Captain: Paddy McKeown; professional: Grant Hodnett (England); overseas amateur: None; Last season: 1st.



REIGNING league champions and holders of the LCB Cup, Bamford Fieldhouse's sights are firmly set on adding the prestigious National Knock-out competition to the club’s roll of honour.

With that in mind, the Hollin Lane side appear even stronger in 2013, despite the loss to Littleborough of ex-Lancashire player Chris Schofield.

Leading wicketkeeper-batsman Nick Brierley and all-rounder Hashim Malik have joined from Norden — the latter is back at Bamford after a nine-year absence — as well as Babar Khan, Josh Tolley and Simon Wright.

With so much talent at Paddy McKeown's disposal, the other 13 teams, it seems, are only playing for places.



Droylsden


Captain: Gareth Dent; Professional: None; Overseas amateur: None; Last season: 11th



GARETH Dent is back at the helm at Droylsden following Michael Schofield’s surprise move to Denton West.

Decent with bat and ball, the former captain’s decision to jump ship to the Lancashire County League is a big body blow for the Oakfield club.

At his best, Dent is one of the best amateur players in the Saddleworth League, and in Mohammed Shakir and Saif Ur Rehman, Droylsden possess two effective bowlers.

Zahir Afzal Khan and Mohammed Shahid, who played for Friarmere last season, are two new faces in the Droylsden line-up.



Heyside

Captain: Ben Holt; Professional: Gerrie Snyman (Namibia); Overseas amateur: None; Last season: 4th



BEN Holt takes the reins at Heyside in 2013, replacing Nick Campbell, who will act as his deputy.

The 26-year-old opening batsman won’t be short of older heads to help guide him. As well as Campbell, who lifted the Tanner Cup last season, Mark Barnes and Tony Heaton offer plenty of experience, so too paid man Gerrie Snyman, who made quite an impact in his debut campaign at Little Hey Street.

The Namibian plundered almost 1,200 runs and was the leading wicket-taker in the pro ranks with 65 victims.

A boost for Holt is the return of spinner Danny Cashin after a season at Crompton



Friarmere

Captain: Majid Khan; Professional: None; Overseas amateur: Adnan Farooq (Pakistan); Last season: 12th



A MINIBUS load of players have departed Slack Lane, leaving Majid Khan to lead a handful of club stalwarts and a host of youngsters.

Of the notables, Darren Graham, Asif Qayyum, Zoaib Shah (skipper in 2012) and Abdul Chand, who scored almost 500 runs last season, have gone.

Wicketkeeper Andy Walker remains, so too Ishtiaq Hussain and all-rounder Atiq Ur Rehman.

Friarmere are hoping to see more of young quickie Zafran Munir while the batting of Bradford University student Abbass Ali — he claimed nine for 19 for the seconds a couple of years ago — has apparently come on leaps and bounds.

Friarmere are unable to sign a pro, but have overseas amateur Adnan Farooq.



Glodwick

Captain: Nigel Stock; Professional: Rehan Rafiq (Pakistan); Overseas amateur: None; Last season: 8th



LAST year’s seemingly endless wet weather hit Glodwick more than anyone else, with half their 26 league fixtures drawn.

The club has put in four big drains at significant cost, which so far are working.

A Tanner Cup final appearance in 2012 — they lost in a nail-biter to Heyside — was another step forward for the side which entered the league five years ago.

Anees Ur Rehman, who signed as an overseas amateur 12 months ago, has qualified as a home player, and again will team up with reliable pro Rehan Rafiq.

Franco Leonhardt, a junior at Glodwick, has rejoined from Werneth, while skipper Nigel Stock is delighted to have kept medium-pacer Imran Asghar, wicketkeeper Adam Brown, all-rounder Shahid Mahmood and spin bowler Imran Khan.



Greenfield

Captain: Alex Peters; Professional: Chris Gill (England); Overseas amateur: None; Last season: 6th



HOME-grown Chris Gill, second in the amateur batting averages behind Chris Schofield, apparently declined several offers to play elsewhere to remain at Greenfield, for whom he has been installed as pro for the first time.

The youngster is part of a team boosted by the addition of Dave Wood and Michael Bird.

Wood spent his early years at Greenfield, before switching to Uppermill, where he won the Saddleworth League title.

Bird, who had previously had a short spell at Ladhill Lane, offers a bit with the bat but more with his medium-pacers.

Sixth last term, Greenfield’s sights are firmly fixed on a top-five slot.