Talking Cricket: Pro shows mean the leagues stay strong

7:30am Wednesday 30th May 2012 in Sport Photograph of the Author By Matt Donlan, Sports reporter

SOME people insist there is no place in modern league cricket for the professionals.

Those same people bang on and on and say the idea of having a paid man is outdated and needs scrapping.

That is an opinion that will never win any favour from me.

Professionals are what make league cricket special.

If you are an amateur footballer doing your bit for Worsthorne United or Mill Hill you are highly unlikely to get the chance to grace the same field as a current professional.

League cricket is different – you get that chance to rub shoulders with players at the top of their game.

I know Rawtenstall’s bowling was not anywhere near its best on Friday night when Ramsbottom professional Pieter Malan smashed his way to 165 not out on Friday.

But no-one will forget that innings.

That’s what you want from the professionals; the magic moments that can never be erased from the memory banks.

There was also another great memory on Sunday when Colne professional Shadley Van Schalkwyk vaulted the fence at Rawtenstall to go and get a ball that had been pinged into Bacup Road by Vinny Hanson.

It was quite a bizarre sight – and Colne will learn from the South African’s energy.

Rawtenstall also provided a special moment for me on Sunday.

I have heard many things about the cheese and onion pie on offer in the Rawtenstall tea hut...and I had to give it a rattle.

With peas...it was pie heaven. The challenge is therefore laid down to tea rooms around the league.

Comments (8)

8:15am Thu 31 May 12

HecticBigBoy says...

Agree whole heartedly MD, i know its often some clubs biggest expense, but without a pro playing it would soon be one man and his dog watching at some venues.
Agree whole heartedly MD, i know its often some clubs biggest expense, but without a pro playing it would soon be one man and his dog watching at some venues. HecticBigBoy

9:16am Thu 31 May 12

red rose says...

Here here,
Without overseas pro's most clubs would have died by now .they attract far more interest and bring in far more finance than the engish pro's who are mainly leading local lads who arnt good enough for the county game.The sunshine plays a big part and I am sure those with good overseas pro's saw the results in the till last weekend.
Here here, Without overseas pro's most clubs would have died by now .they attract far more interest and bring in far more finance than the engish pro's who are mainly leading local lads who arnt good enough for the county game.The sunshine plays a big part and I am sure those with good overseas pro's saw the results in the till last weekend. red rose

12:05pm Thu 31 May 12

HecticBigBoy says...

As a cricket lover, i enjoy seeing the battles between good amateurs and good pros, would dread to think how dreary some of the cricket ive seen would be without that interest.
As a cricket lover, i enjoy seeing the battles between good amateurs and good pros, would dread to think how dreary some of the cricket ive seen would be without that interest. HecticBigBoy

12:11pm Thu 31 May 12

Beehast says...

Should bring back overseas amateurs as well in my opinion,standards are slipping and doing this would up them again.
Should bring back overseas amateurs as well in my opinion,standards are slipping and doing this would up them again. Beehast

1:54pm Thu 31 May 12

HecticBigBoy says...

i agree, but we need to sort out the 'one paid man' per club rule first, we all know which clubs are paying half a team and which aren't!! its stupid the exec 'pretending' that no-one is breaking the rules, just look at the table and have a guess ..... lol
i agree, but we need to sort out the 'one paid man' per club rule first, we all know which clubs are paying half a team and which aren't!! its stupid the exec 'pretending' that no-one is breaking the rules, just look at the table and have a guess ..... lol HecticBigBoy

2:09pm Thu 31 May 12

EarbyAsh says...

Thats fair enough Matt, but from the Ribblesdale league side of things, next year teams could have 5 less home games to get gate money, tearoom and bar because of the change of format. I suspect some clubs such as ourselves will be concerned about paying for a top pro, Like Azmat and if it rains too, losing a lot of money.
Thats fair enough Matt, but from the Ribblesdale league side of things, next year teams could have 5 less home games to get gate money, tearoom and bar because of the change of format. I suspect some clubs such as ourselves will be concerned about paying for a top pro, Like Azmat and if it rains too, losing a lot of money. EarbyAsh

6:50pm Thu 31 May 12

rishto says...

HecticBigBoy wrote:
i agree, but we need to sort out the 'one paid man' per club rule first, we all know which clubs are paying half a team and which aren't!! its stupid the exec 'pretending' that no-one is breaking the rules, just look at the table and have a guess ..... lol
thats funny seem like you need to look nearer bottom and you may find some teams who are paying just proves it doesnt guarantee success
[quote][p][bold]HecticBigBoy[/bold] wrote: i agree, but we need to sort out the 'one paid man' per club rule first, we all know which clubs are paying half a team and which aren't!! its stupid the exec 'pretending' that no-one is breaking the rules, just look at the table and have a guess ..... lol[/p][/quote]thats funny seem like you need to look nearer bottom and you may find some teams who are paying just proves it doesnt guarantee success rishto

8:03am Fri 1 Jun 12

HecticBigBoy says...

rishto wrote:
HecticBigBoy wrote: i agree, but we need to sort out the 'one paid man' per club rule first, we all know which clubs are paying half a team and which aren't!! its stupid the exec 'pretending' that no-one is breaking the rules, just look at the table and have a guess ..... lol
thats funny seem like you need to look nearer bottom and you may find some teams who are paying just proves it doesnt guarantee success
whichever end, lets sort it then, against the rules and the spirit.
[quote][p][bold]rishto[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]HecticBigBoy[/bold] wrote: i agree, but we need to sort out the 'one paid man' per club rule first, we all know which clubs are paying half a team and which aren't!! its stupid the exec 'pretending' that no-one is breaking the rules, just look at the table and have a guess ..... lol[/p][/quote]thats funny seem like you need to look nearer bottom and you may find some teams who are paying just proves it doesnt guarantee success[/p][/quote]whichever end, lets sort it then, against the rules and the spirit. HecticBigBoy

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