12:10pm Tuesday 15th September 2009
By Matt Donlan
DAVID Lloyd heaped praise on Accrington’s never-say-die cricketers despite stealing all the headlines himself in the dramatic league title win.
The 62-year-old former England Test and Lancashire star, now better known for his TV and radio work, pulled on his whites for the crucial last game of the season at Lowerhouse.
And in a script he could have written himself, Bumble scored the winning runs as his hometown club defied the odds to retain their Lancashire League title in the most dramatic of circumstances as they pipped Haslingden in the penultimate over of the season.
“All the lads were saying that I must have written the script,” laughed Lloyd.
“It is all a bit unbelievable to be honest.
“I thought it would be a game with very little on it.
"I thought Haslingden would have won the title and we would have had the Holland Cup sorted so it was a bit of a surprise for it to be such a big game.
“But as they saying goes, it’s a funny old game.
“I was desperate to go into bat and I was asking Dibber (skipper David Ormerod) to put me in – but he kept putting me down the order.”
Lloyd, who has promised to spread the word of Accrington’s success to the nation via his TV and radio commentary stints as well as on his popular Twitter page, was a late selection for the game and explained: “I found out "I was free on Sunday and texted my lad Graham and told him I was available.
“I thought they might be a little short with holidays and football and he said he would have a word with Dibber.
“They put me in the team and I always enjoy it when I get the chance to play.
“The Accy lads are a real top set. You can’t be sensitive in that dressing room. Boy, that Graeme Sneddon fairly gives it some.
“But it is all good fun. There are no egos and they are a relaxed bunch.
"It is almost as though they play the game just as a way of warming up for a beer afterwards.
“And that is what club cricket is about – and I will mention it on commentary, especially if the England v Australia matches are a bit dull and the boss man tells me to liven things up a bit.”
Despite his age, Lloyd says he may play again next year and added: “I was telling the lads that I was going to call a press conference to announce my retirement.
“But after hitting the winning runs in the title decider, I will have to have another go next year.
“I still feel okay on the pitch. I can see the ball when I am batting and fielding, although I am not sure how the catching is now – but not many come to me.
“And I have told them all that they will have to watch their places.
"My contract with Sky Sports is up in three years – and I might just be in my cricketing prime then.”
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