Darwen's cricketers need spirit of '99

9:17am Monday 14th April 2008

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By Harry Nuttall »

I HAVEN'T actually seen any, but I'm told there are several cards in the windows of corner shops in town along the lines of: Wanted - Bowlers for Darwen Cricket Club. Hard graft. No pay.

The new Northern Premier Cricket League gets under way on Saturday and Darwen travel to face champions St Annes.

The Birch Hall boys have been among the top few teams in the league for the past decade. But they are going to struggle now.

No doubt Pakistani professional Atif Ashraf will bag another dollop of runs.

His last three innings were 144 at Netherfield, 140 at home to Fleetwood and 208 at home to Barrow. All not out.

I saw them - and they were breathtaking.

But Darwen have lost both strike bowlers - Keith Semple has returned to the West Indies and Andrew Mercer has gone to play in the Liverpool Competition to rekindle his enthusiasm. Yeah, right.

New skipper Andrew Cook took more catches than wickets last year and Jeff Hacking's battered legs won't stand another gruelling season.

So it will largely be down to the medium pace of Gareth Cordingley, the leg spin of John Cordingley and Atif's useful trundlers.

Unless someone comes out of the woodwork. I'm not holding my breath.

It all leaves a question about the encouragement of youngsters coming through the ranks and club spirit. Good luck, Andrew. You'll need it.

Team spirit had been the key to Darwen's championship success in 1999 after more than a decade in the doldrums.

And it was largely thanks to the inspired leadership of former New Zealand star Richard Petrie.

I was talking to him a few days back and he has fond memories of his super season at Birch Hall.

He told me: "That season was one of the most satisfying times of my entire career.

It might sound strange as I've played the game at the highest level but I had never played in a team that showed such spirit.

"In first class or international cricket players are very self-focused and take pleasure in personal victories.

"The Darwen lads of '99 were the best 'team' I ever had the pleasure to play with.

"Every player put the team first. I was just lucky enough to be the right guy in the right place at the right time."

He didn't mention that he'd topped the league bowling averages and come third in the batting list.

Paul Rodden, currently working in Australia, played in that team. "Richard was an inspiration," he said.

It was fitting that Petrie hit the winning runs - up at Netherfield - to clinch the championship.

He recalled: "Out in the middle you could feel the tension round the ground.

"It was damp and getting dark. I was really playing third fiddle to the Cordingley brothers, Gareth and Neil.

"They were tremendous and so were the fans who cheered every run."

Richard tells me that he is now busily grooming his young son, Max, for a spell at Darwen around the year 2020.

You couldn't speed it up a bit could you, Richard?