Preview by Ann Boulton
Readers Lincolnshire ECB Premier League champions Bourne get their season under way with a home game on Saturday against Lindum, who finished two places behind them in 2010.
Last season’s top wicket-taker Fahad Masood returns to Abbey Lawn for a second attempt at the league record as Pete Morgan’s side look for their second successive championship.
Lindum, captained this year by Dale Christie, have also recruited a bowler, 22-year-old Australian Matthew Bursa who was the leading wicket taker in the recent Sydney Second Grade competition.
But it is to Woodhall Spa that all eyes will turn as, following his devastating seven match spell at Jubilee Park last year, Pakistani international Fawad Alam is set to return as Woodhall’s overseas player for 2011. Difficulties with Alam’s visa saw him and the club investigated by the UK Borders Agency in 2010 but no action was taken and the agency has cleared the fast bowling all-rounder to return for this season. Alam may not make it here for Woodhall’s first match at home to Sleaford but is expected to arrive later in the month. Off-spinning all rounder Dan Milgate has also returned to Jubilee Park where he played for Woodhall Spa in 2008. Australian Milgate, who took 43 wickets for Boston last season, is now a permanent resident in England, which allowed Woodhall to go after Alam as their overseas player. And to strengthen to batting top order, Andrew Crook has transferred back to the Jubilee Park club from Bracebridge Heath.
Grimsby Town have also added to their squad, signing quickie Carl Taylor from Appleby-Frodingham and batsman Jim Morgan from Louth as well as bringing over South African spinner George Linde, who is also a talented batsman and is expected to fill the gap at number four while the ever-improving Neal Snell bats at three.
Market Deeping are the visitors to Augusta Street on Saturday and are expected to show few changes to their team, although bowler Michael Kearns has moved on to play for Spalding.
Louth visit Boston whose overseas player is 22 year old wicketkeeper/batsman Matt Ward from Australia, while Louth welcome back one of the league’s best know overseas players – Sri Lankan all-rounder Nuwan Shiroman.
Shiroman played in Essex in 2010 but prior to that had five years in the Lincolnshire Premier League with Louth and Lindum. He will be joined in the Louth line-up by former Cleethorpes and Barnsley quickie Andy Carrington and slow bowler Michael Brown who has moved from Grimsby.
Going from Louth to Bracebridge Heath is bowler Jonathan Darke and he will be joined in the line-up by former Lindum player Karanjit Bansal and Lincolnshire batsman Vikram Atri who makes a welcome return to Cross O’Cliff Court. County skipper Paul Cook is this year also captaining his club who will be chasing the championship that eluded them last season.
Nettleham is the venue for Bracebridge’s first game and the home side will hope to introduce top order batsman Daniel Wright (24) from Australia to replace Warren Nel who has moved to Hartsholme. Wright averaged around 40 in the championship winning Lara Club’s season and is also a medium paced bowler.
Skegness are the guests at Hartsholme, with Australian Wade McCall making his return from his homeland. Returning with him is 19 year old bowler Lochlan Christian and the seasiders have also signed top order bat Norman Brackley who is from Zimbabwe but holds a British passport.
SATURDAY FIXTURES
(noon starts)
Boston v Louth
Bourne v Lindum
Grimsby v Market Deeping
Hartsholme v Skegness
Nettleham v Bracebridge Heath
Woodhall Spa v Sleaford
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