Skipper Danny Glover says new-look Shepley are hungry for success this season – very hungry.
Despite finishing third in the Drakes Premiership last season, Glover admits the Marsh Lane recipe just wasn’t quite right.
He believes, however, the introduction of Sydney first-grade player Daniel Anderson, experienced all-rounder Tom Burkinshaw from Kirkburton and keeper-batsman Shahban Raheem from Shelley have been spot on.
And Shepley are already leading the chase of top club Delph & Dobcross as they tackle a massive double-header against third-placed Hoylandswaine at home today, in the league, and an All Rounder Sykes Cup quarter-final at Jedi Sports Championship leaders Slaithwaite tomorrow.
“We are all working hard and battling together and we want to be in there challenging for things – we are hungry for it,” said Glover, determined to get back in the winners’ circle.
“We have had a few close games but we have come through, and that’s what good teams do.
“The good thing is that everyone has settled in and they are properly contributing, working hard.
“With the team we’ve got, we should be there or thereabouts, and we can beat anyone on our day with the bowling attack we’ve got.
“We can all bat, all 11 of us, and that helps, but the strength of the bowling attack is what it’s all about – and that’s our main asset.
“You have to be able to take 10 wickets and we are doing that pretty consistently, so it’s a good trait to have.”
Glover himself is at the forefront of that attack, along with Jamal Nasir and the talented Burkinshaw.
Nasir is the first top-flight bowler to hit 30 league and cup wickets this season, topping the list with an extremely mean average of 10.53.
Burkinshaw has 18 wickets and Glover 16. In the batting, Anderson is blazing away with 407 runs so far at 45.22.
“Our team spirit is excellent,” added Glover.
“We have changed a few things because last year, for whatever reason, it didn’t seem to work.
“We have a good set of lads who like to play together and have a drink together, and that’s how it should be.
“Shahban has done really well behind the sticks as well as his batting, and Daniel Anderson has hit the ground running, which is unusual for an overseas and especially for an Aussie, because they are not used to the wickets.
“He has started really well, though, and fingers crossed he will get 1,000 runs as well as contributing a little bit with the ball as well.
“He is a good lad to have around the club as well and it turns out he knows a few people back home who we know, so it’s all good.
“The addition of Tom Burkinshaw has given us something extra and Jamal just gets better with age.
“Hands down, he is probably the best bowler I have ever played with. The control he has is exceptional.
“The things he does with the ball you can’t even dream about – inswing, outswing and putting it on a plate.
“His bowling at the death is also superb, and he will bowl yorker after yorker and hit the stumps as often as you want him to.”
The bowlers are helped by a solid
batting order providing a platform, through the likes of Tom Denton, Dan Wood, Gary Bradley, Josh Ardron and Oli Davidson.
“The good thing for us is that everyone is contributing,” added Glover, who has played in Australia and New Zealand.
“It is not just the same three or four, everyone is pulling their weight and that’s what is getting us across the line when we need to.
“We have won some matches already which we had no right to win, so that augurs really well for the rest of the campaign.”
