THE cricket season is barely four games old and already Todmorden's spin-king Ibra Ali has his eyes on being the Lancashire League's top bowler this term.

Ibra starred for the Centre Vale club throughout the 1990s, taking the league's bowling prize on three occasions, but for the past five years has been playing with Widnes in the Cheshire County League.

That also brought representative honours for Cheshire at Minor Counties level, but after his sojourn Ibra is back at Todmorden - and don't their rivals know it.

In four games he has claimed 21 victims - his most recent haul being six for 49 in a 62 run win over Rishton - and he is glad to be back.

"I was five years with Widnes and when I went there it was really all about giving myself a fresh challenge," explained Ibra.

"I played some Minor Counties cricket for Cheshire in those five years, but it is good to return to Todmorden.

"There are still some of the same old faces, but there are some new ones too and there are some good young guys coming through."

Ibra accepts that because there have been a number of changes in personnel at Centre Vale the side will take time to settle, but also feels that some of their rivals have been a little quick to write off their chances.

"Some would say that we are weaker than last season, but I don't think they have been looking at how strong a team spirit we have," said Ibra.

"We know that if we stick together that we will do alright and, while we have no real batting stars, I feel that we have players who can contribute a long way down the order and that we will be more than able to compile some very competitive totals.

"Then we come to the bowling and I feel we are strong. I have been happy with the way things have started and there is no two ways about it - I want to end the season as the best bowler in the league."

Ibra will gain support from Todmorden's new professional Gyandera Pandey, an Indian one-day international all-rounder who, at the age of 30, has plenty to offer in terms of experience.

Pandey, whose arrival was delayed by problems finalising his visa, started his campaign well with 43 not out and 4-39 against Rishton and Ibra observed: "Gyan is an experienced guy who is his State captain back in India.

"He is also a player who works hard and that will help our team."

However, tomorrow sees Todmorden face a cup challenge away at Heywood in the first round of the Inter-League Club Challenge Trophy and Ibra feels that it is important to the Centre Vale squad to succeed on as many fronts as possible.

"We are a side who are still gelling and getting to know one another and the next two weekends are crucial," he said.

"We have two big league games and two big cup matches and, if we can do well in those games, then I think that the belief that we can compete will be there in our camp.

"A good cup run would help that spirit, and we can also use those games to give a few other players a chance to show what they can do.

"I don't know, we may still struggle this season, but all we can do is give it our best shot and if our best is not good enough then at least we tried our hardest."

In the other first round matches Rawtenstall face the challenge of taking on last season's CLL champions Littleborough away from home, while runners-up Radcliffe, who were the competition's strongest side in the second half of last season, play host to Colne.

Church will have their work cut out as they face a well-fancied Rochdale side who will be eager to improve on last season's league showing and other sides travelling will be Ramsbottom, at Unsworth, and Enfield, who face Stand.

Lancashire League champions Bacup are among the seven local sides to have home advantage as they face Ashton at Lanehead.

First round games: Lowerhouse v Crompton, Unsworth v Ramsbottom, Burnley v Milnrow, Rochdale v Church, Haslingden v Norden, Littleborough v Rawtenstall, Accrington v Royton, Stand v Enfield, Nelson v Werneth, Heywood v Todmorden, Rishton v Walsden, Radcliffe v Colne, Bacup v Ashton. Byes - East Lancs, Middleton and Oldham.