KIRKBURTON are hoping to have classy batsman Matthew Wood available for some of the important matches they’ve got coming up.

Skipper Greg Buckley revealed that while the former Yorkshire star has been knocking points off his golf handicap at Woodsome Hall most of this summer, he could well be donning the whites again in the not too distant future.

That will be music to the ears of supporters at Riley Lane – Wood played in the midweek T/20 Trophy match against Honley – because they remain handily placed in third to mount a possible late challenge for the Byram Shield, while they also take on Drakes Premiership leaders Shepley in the semi-finals of the arrowselfdrive.com Sykes Cup a week tomorrow.

“We are generally very happy with the start we’ve made to the season,” said Buckley, who top-scored with 66 in last week’s victory over previously resurgent Hoylandswaine.

“I don’t think we’ve quite smashed it yet like the names in our batting line-up suggest we might, but we’ve found ways to win when we’ve been lacking and that’s the main thing.

“To be fair, I don’t think the wickets have really suited our line-up so far, because we’ve got young lads who like to play their shots, but we’ve got plenty of bowling and people have stepped up when I’ve asked.

“I still think we’ve got a lot to give, so we will see where we are as we go into the second half of the season and hopefully keep pushing on from there.”

Burton lost all-rounder Ryan Robinson to champions Hoylandswaine last winter but they recruited with former Mumbai first-class man Iqbal Khan joining from Scholes and Gurman Randhawa slotting in from the Yorkshire Academy squad.

Khan has already piled up 290 runs behind opener Andrew Smith’s 350, while Jonny Butterfield is powering towards 300 runs as well.

And Randhawa is now topping the club’s wicket-taking list on 25 after his seven-for against Swaine, providing a productive spin option to Buckley’s other candidates and the 21 wickets up front of opener Craig Fletcher.

“I reckon the Premiership is as strong as it’s ever been and it looks like anyone can pretty much beat anyone else,” he said. “Our main aim is to stay in the hunt and see what happens nearer the end of the season.

“We’ve got a good mix in our side, we all enjoy each other’s company and we enjoy ourselves on the cricket field – we win together and we lose together.

“There is a good spirit at the club and we just want to do as well as we can in every game we play.”

Buckley – who has been having trials with Durham – is enjoying captaincy at 23 years of age and believes Kirkburton have all the components to be successful.

“Andy Smith and Butterfield give us a good foundation at the top of the batting and then you’ve got Iqbal (Khan) coming in at No3 who is solid as a rock and will bat all day,” he explained. “We’ve then got myself, Gurman and Oliver Davidson next with some firepower and if we get the base, we are easily capable of getting 100 in the last 10 on Drakes League grounds.

“It’s also probable that Matthew Wood will be playing a few games, especially when I’m away, so when you add him into the mix it’s good.

“Tom Burkinshaw has had an injury, but him and Fletch opening the bowling is a good attack, Matt Garrety has got a lot of wickets so far and then we’ve got the spinners with myself, Gurman and OLi Davidson.

“Add Andy Smith to those, who has not bowled in every game but seems to get a four, five or six every time I ask him, and we’ve got plenty of bowling as well.”

Buckley – a loser with Elland in the final against

Golcar in 2009 – says everyone at the club is excited about the Sykes Cup. Kirkburton are just one step away from the showpiece after ditching Barkisland in the quarter-finals, although taking on Shepley at Marsh Lane is obviously a big hurdle.

“We don’t take anyone lightly and we always back ourselves,” said Buckley.

“It’s a big day for both clubs and we’ll be giving it 100%. It’s a great competition and it would be smashing for some of our lads, especially the younger ones who haven’t been there before, to get through to the final and experience the occasion. Shepley are a good side and they are going well but, as I have said, anyone can beat anyone else in that top five or six, so we’ll be giving it everything we’ve got.”