ENGLISH cricket may be upside down in the Southern Hemisphere but local clubs have their feet firmly on the ground.

With the new season becoming visible on the horizon, plans are well in hand for what promises to be another exciting summer and club officials are being quick to stir interest by announcing their professionals, newcomers, skippers and pre-season net sessions.

In the Central Lancashire League, Unsworth have engaged Sri Lankan Test player Champaka Ramanayake as their paid man, a right arm, fast medium bowler and middle order batsman. He has toured the UK with Sri Lanka in 1986, 1988, 1990 and 1991.

He has played in 18 Test matches and 60 one-day internationals. His best bowling return was 4 for 17 against South Africa in a one-day match in 1993.

In 1989 he was chosen by the Daily Telegraph as one of the ten best cricketers in the world.

Now aged 31, he hopes his family will be able to join him for the summer.

Over at Walshaw where the club are members of the Bolton Association, the new professional is Simon Bamford, an all-rounder who was previously with Milnrow in the Central Lancashire League.

Last summer he scored 960 runs, including nine half centuries, and took 45 wickets.

Coming in as a player-coach is Charles Dagnall who has been a professional with Astley and Tyldesley. Last summer he scored 876 runs, took 86 wickets and was awarded the Bolton Association's Professional's Prize.

The Sycamore Road 'revolution' sees Rob Faulkner named as first team captain. Apart from his college days, Walshaw has been his only club.

Just along the road at Bolton Association rivals Elton, Darren Foy has been retained as professional for 1997 with Graham Bushell the club coach.

Completed projects at Elton CC included new covers for the wicket, additional seating, scorebox re-roofing and internal improvement to the clubhouse.

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