Urmston CC Pre Season Report (From Messenger Newspapers)

Urmston CC Pre Season Report

12:23pm Monday 16th April 2012 in Sport

URMSTON CC are looking to continue their improvement of the past three seasons in the ECB Cheshire County Premier Cricket League as the 2012 season gets underway with a home game on Saturday against last season’s runners up, Chester Boughton Hall CC (12.30pm).

After finishing in sixth place last season, Urmston have recruited former Lancashire U-19 player Nick Fawcett from Darcy Lever CC who will open the batting with last year’s player of the season, Chris Watson.

Also joining the club are 15-year-old twins Matthew and Callum Parkinson from Heaton CC. Leg spinner Matthew and all rounder Callum both played for North of England U15s last season as well as starring in the ECB Cup winning Lancashire U14s team. Matthew is part of the Lancashire CCC Academy and Callum is in the emerging players squad.

They will join a squad which already includes former India u-19 all rounder, skipper Sumit Panda, the new Lancashire u-19s captain, wicket keeper Elliot Bullock, Cheshire Minor Counties opening bowler Adam Syddall, Cheshire League young player of the year Lewis Jackson and veteran Aussie Adam Landry. Winter training has gone well and the club are hopeful of making a challenge in a tough league.

However, it is the news of the 2012 overseas player which has really excited the supporters.

Urmston CC's former overseas star, Ashwin Punja, has helped the club establish a sponsorship link with Red Bull India and Indian Test star Gautam Gambhir Red Bull organised an India-wide College Cricket T20 Competition which pitted the 32 best college teams across India together in a knockout tournament that culminated in a finals day in Mumbai in early April.

The eventual winners were Rizvi College from Mumbai who beat Jain College from Bangalore by five runs in a pulsating final at the legendary Brabourne Stadium.

The Rizvi College captain and winner of the Red Bull Player of the Tournament, Swapnil Salvi, has been rewarded with a chance to play for Urmston CC in 2012 as the overseas player sponsored by Red Bull.

Swapnil will also receive guidance from Gambhir, ex-India star Dinesh Mongia, upcoming talent Varun Aaron and Sachin Tendulkar’s fitness trainer. Swapnil is a hard hitting batsman and off spin bowler who is seen as a real emerging talent by Gambhir.

The club is still seeking a shirt sponsor. Any company who wishes to get involved should contact chairman Rob Arnold on raarnold@btopenworld.com