Talking Cricket: Pro shows mean the leagues stay strong (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Talking Cricket: Pro shows mean the leagues stay strong

7:30am Wednesday 30th May 2012 in Northern Premier League 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Those same people bang on and on and say the idea of having a paid man is outdated and needs scrapping.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.