NWCL previews for Monday’s Germany T20 - by Graham Hardcastle | North West Cricket League

NWCL previews for Monday’s Germany T20 – by Graham Hardcastle

By Graham Hardcastle

An Anthony Axford North West Cricket League Select XI will face the Germany national team in a T20 friendly at Farnworth on Monday evening – and Salesbury star Ollie Wetton believes it is a key moment in the league’s fledgling existence.

Left-arm spinner Wetton is the Premiership’s leading wicket-taker this summer with 40 – he has taken 47 in all cricket – and has been selected in a 13-man squad for the 5.30pm start.

Farnworth captain Simon Booth was recently asked by Atiq-uz-Zaman, the Lancashire based coach of Germany, if he could put a side together to face the European nation as they prepare for an ICC T20 World Cup qualifying event in Scotland, beginning later this week.

Germany, who have won their last six T20s, have been training in Bolton, and Booth has obliged. He’s set to captain and keep wicket.

It’s headed by an eye-catching trio of professionals in Milinda Siriwardana (Farnworth), Jameel Stuart (Farnworth Social Circle) and Jono Bird (Kearsley).

Wetton is one of the amateurs, and can’t wait to help put the NWCL on the map with a notable win.

“It’s key to get more exposure to this league with it being so new, and this can only help,” he said.

“People will see it and be saying, ‘This league has played or even beaten an international side who are trying to qualify for a World Cup, they must be good’.

“The team we’ve put together, it’s going to take some beating. It’s not a team who’s going to roll over and get battered.

“Everybody has the same goal of trying to get the league recognised and to get yourself recognised as a player. I’m excited, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous. You just never know who’s watching.”

Wetton is a 23-year-old with a high ceiling as a player, one who has taken a lot from watching now retired Lancashire stalwart Stephen Parry during his playing days.

Wetton, who is clearly matching performance with potential at present, said: “When I was growing up watching Lancs, it was him and Arron Lilley.

“He also played at Lowerhouse as pro for a bit. Whenever they played at Clitheroe, I’d go and watch him bowl. The way he went about his business, he was right up there. I don’t think he got the recognition he deserved.”

Salesbury are currently fifth in the Premiership with eight wins from 14 games.

“I think everyone sets out at the start of the season to win the league,” he said. “But, overall, I think we’re pretty happy because you’re playing a lot of different teams and at different grounds.

“Early season, we didn’t particularly play well but won some games. As the season’s gone on, results and performances have matched up a bit more.

“Ask anyone at the club and I’d think they’d say the same, we’ve probably let ourselves down with the bat a bit.”

Wetton is enjoying the freshness of the NWCL following the merger of the Ribblesdale and Bolton Leagues.

“Everyone at Salesbury, we’re really enjoying the change of scenery. It felt like Groundhog Day every season playing the same teams every week. With new teams, it’s exciting.

“And I think it’s making everyone better.

“The standard of pro from the Bolton League teams especially has taken some of the Ribb League teams by surprise.

“It’s about working out how to get someone out who averages 98 or how to get them off strike to bowl at the amateurs. It’s a brilliant challenge.”

And, indicating Wetton’s competitive nature which Germany will soon experience, he is refusing to give up the chance of overhauling Little Lever, who are 42 points clear of Salesbury with nine rounds left.

He added: “They’ve had an unbelievable season, but you just never know.

“We’ve got to play them at home, and there’s not many teams who come to Salesbury and take 12 points off us.”

NWCL Select XI squad: Simon Booth (c&w, Farnworth), Curtis Anderton (Little Lever), Jono Bird (Kearsley), Dave Flanagan (Lostock), Nipun Gaikwad (Little Lever), Connor Lord (Tonge), Cam Murray (Kearsley), Mo Nazim (Atherton), Milinda Siriwardana (Farnworth), Jameel Stuart (Farnworth SC), Zander Van Tonder (Padiham), Ollie Wetton (Salesbury), Will Wrathall (Read).

Atherton’s Mo Nazim is planning to be more Verstappen than Vorsprung durch Technik when an Anthony Axford North West Cricket League Select XI face the German national team in a T20 friendly at Farnworth on Monday night.

“I’m looking forward to it and am going to be bowling as quick as I can,” said the 41-year-old new ball seamer.

“I bowl quickly with a slingy action and bowl a lot of yorkers. There are some people at my club who think I’m the quickest in the league. I don’t know how true that is, but that’s what has been said.”

Germany, who have won their last six T20s, have been training in Bolton, and Booth has obliged by picking a strong squad of 13, which he will captain.

It’s headed by an eye-catching trio of professionals in Milinda Siriwardana (Farnworth), Jameel Stuart (Farnworth Social Circle) and Jono Bird (Kearsley).

Nazim is one of the amateurs, and someone desperate to play. In fact, so desperate, that he didn’t wait for Booth’s call when he heard the 5.30pm fixture was taking place.

“Any league I’ve ever played in, I’ve always wanted to represent that league,” he explained.

“I heard they were playing this game, so I messaged Boothy and asked if I could play. He got back to me straightaway and said, ‘Yes, you’re in’. I was desperate to play, and I thought I’d get to him before anyone else did.

“Playing against the German boys, an international side, it’s brilliant opportunity for us all.

“I’ve played a Minor Counties game for Cumberland before, but I’ve never played against an international side. It’s going to be a good challenge, and it would be massive to beat them.”

Nazim has taken 30 league wickets this season – the seventh best haul in the league – and 36 in all competitions. By his own high standards, he’s not entirely happy with that return.

But he’s absolutely loving life with Atherton, for whom he claimed the rare – perhaps unique – feat of taking a wicket with his very first ball for the club back in April.

“I’ve really enjoyed it so far in this league,” he continued. “It’s my first season with Atherton. I played for Greenmount back in the Bolton League days.”

Atherton currently sit 19th in the 24-team table having won three of 14 matches.

“As a team, we’re not doing great,” he added. “The batting has been a struggle for us if they get (pro) Zain Abbas out.

“As far as the club and a group of lads is concerned, it’s the best I’ve ever played for since I started at 13. It’s so friendly and down to earth. It’s like a family, to be honest. They like me, and I like them. I’d like to stay here for a while.

“If we get 160 or 170 on the board, we’ll win 10 out of 10 I reckon. At the moment, we’re also dropping too many catches.

“We played Salesbury a few weeks ago. We got 118, and they won seven wickets down. But we dropped eight catches.

“We’ve got some good youngsters around the team and the club, and our target is to play in the Premier Division next season (a top-12 finish is needed) and we can progress from there.”