Michael Cranmer is back at Hoylandswaine for the 2016 Drakes Huddersfield League campaign.

The 26-year-old all-rounder from Adelaide will spearhead the Haigh Lane club’s bid for honours in the Premiership alongside opening bowler Iain Wardlaw.

When Cranmer was last in the Drakes in 2014, he captained Hoylandswaine to the Byrom Shield Premiership title, the arrowselfdrive Sykes Cup and the allroundercricket.com T20 Trophy treble.

They currently hold just the last of those three crowns, so Cranmer’s return is a massive boost, especially as he is now well clear of the knee injury which forced him to head back to South Australia early two seasons ago.

In addition to leading the side in 2014, Cranmer hammered 718 league and cup runs at an average of 71.80 and took 22 wickets at 19.45 each, and he was named the league’s non-EU Player of the Year as a result.

He didn’t bowl as much last time as he made full use of an attack featuring 55-wicket Richard Wilkinson, who took over the captaincy, 40-wicket Yasir Abbas, Ben Potter, Ryan Robinson and Zafir Patel.

Cranmer’s impact will be immense in all competitions, and he brings big-hitting calibre to the shortest format, now sponosred by Total Indoor Cricket Solutions, as he had a top score of 186 in the T20 Trophy (against Shelley).

Hoylandswaine's Michael Cranmer.
Hoylandswaine's Michael Cranmer.

The East Torrens player has represented South Australia in one-day cricket and played for Australia Under 19s in the past.

In the current domestic season, he has played for South Australia Under 23s.

He played some county cricket when he was last here, too, hitting 171 for Derbyshire Second XI v Lancashire at Liverpool.

Scorers in the Drakes Huddersfield League and Huddersfield Central League should note some courses coming up in the next couple of months.

Places are limited on all the courses, with further information available from Kexborough’s Andrew Hinchliffe, who also helps out at Hoylandswaine, on 07713 926003.

Introduction to scoring courses will be held at Rotherham Phoenix CC on Saturday, February 6, and Sunday, February 7, in addition to one at Woolley MW CC on Saturday, February 27.

Level One scoring courses will be held at Rotherham Phoenix on Saturday, March 5, and Sunday, March 6.