Deputy Patel is Greenfield bonus

20/20 cricket match, held at Greenfield cricket club, Oldham. Pic shows, Samit Patel, bowling for Greenfield Thunder against Crompton Crusaders..

CALL-UPS by club and country have led to a raft of deputy professionals in the JW Lees Brewery Pennine Cricket League.

The stand-out name so far appeared for Greenfield last weekend ­- England and Nottinghamshire's Samit Patel.

The 31-year-old collected six wickets in the defeat of Rochdale in the Premiership on Saturday and weighed in with two half-centuries on Tom Hardman Twenty20 finals day 24 hours later.

Patel ­was brought in as a replacement for James Muirhead, who has returned to Australia for pre-season training with Victoria.

COACHES

The Notts all-rounder was only expected to play in the league game, but enjoyed it so much, he called his coaches at Trent Bridge to say he wanted to play on Sunday as well for some batting practice, revealed skipper Chris Gill.

"Sammy was great and to play alongside someone who has played at that level, doesn't happen too often, if at all in an amateur's career." said Gill.

"His knowledge of the game and what to do in certain situations was very impressive. Obviously, he didn't know what the pitches were like, but he asked questions and we bounced ideas off each other.

"He was also good for the club. He posed for pictures and donated signed gear, which the club will probably auction in the future."

Greenfield were unable to twist Patel's and Nottinghamshire's arm for a third day's play on August Bank Holiday Monday, so instead they employed Nayyar Abbas.

Pakistani Abbas did not let down Greenfield, taking five for 30 in the two-wicket success at home to Crompton.

The visitors also had a deputy in their ranks ­- Neil Hornbuckle.

Hornbuckle was playing in place of Keegan Peterson, who has gone back to South Africa to join up with Cape Cobras. He also made his mark, claiming five for 66.

Of the other deputies in action, Derbyshire's Wayne Madsen batted number three for Rochdale against Greenfield.

It was a sorry PCL debut for Madsen, though. He lasted only one ball as he was caught by wicketkeeper Alex Bychkov off Michael Bird! He had enjoyed more success with the ball, taking three wickets.

Nine years after appearing for Crompton in the Central Lancashire League, Tino Best was called into action by promotion-seeking Milnrow.

The West Indian pocketed six for 36 in the five-wicket defeat of Shaw.

The departure of Christiaan Jonker after Sunday's Twenty20 final win saw Monton and Weaste turn to Lancashire's Liam Livingstone for Monday's Premiership game against Austerlands.

Livingstone made 25 with the bat and Josh Lenihan (seven) and Jake Sandham (three) cleaned up the Austerlands batsmen in an easy victory.