HONLEY might be kept waiting for a while if they are expecting their left-arm leg-spinner to turn up anytime soon.
Tom Craddock introduced himself to the county championship with a haul of four for 70 as Essex registered their second win of the season in Division II as Northamptonshire had their unbeaten record stripped away from them.
And Honley bowler Craddock (pictured), who started his life in the Drakes League with Holmfirth, is determined to make sure that his two-month trial period at Chelmsford turns into a full-time affair.
“The first game in the championship certainly went pretty well,” said Craddock modestly.
“The skipper James Foster and Adam Wheater had set up to have the chance to bowl at Northants and I managed to get among the wickets.
“Hopefully now I can just keep the wickets coming.”
And the 21-year-old has certainly has his targets set after graduating from a Sport, Leisure and Culture degree at Leeds Metropolitan University.
It was playing for the Leeds/Bradford MCCU and then the Unicorns side competing in the Clydesdale Bank 40 limited overs competition that brought him to the attention of Essex and their timing could not have been better for Craddock, who even had a stint in the Sellers Evening League as a junior turning out for Carsons Builders.
“Having graduated this summer the timing of the offer was perfect really,” said Craddock.
“It means that there is no disturbance and I am not trying to balance playing with studying.
“Basically I can concentrate on trying to make something happen and take the chance and to do that I have to make sure that I carry taking wickets.”
Craddock certainly believes that there is the support system in place at Chelmsford to give him the best shot at making the most of his opportunity.
“It is a very experienced dressing room with the likes of James Foster and Owais Shah to talk to,” added Craddock.
“They will help you master the way of creating the chances to take wickets and really I am just looking to keep learning and keep plugging away.”
