Lancs hand deals to talented ten

11:40pm Monday 15th September 2008

Four local cricketers are included in Lancashire cricket manager Mike Watkinson’s group of ten players to sign new contracts or extensions at Old Trafford.

Radcliffe’s pace bowler Stephen Cheetham has penned his first professional deal, for two years, while Karl Brown, Gareth Cross and Steven Mullaney will continue their professional careers with the Red Rose county.

Cheetham, 21, who plays his club cricket for Central Lancashire League side Heywood, has played three one-day games this season.

He only bowled twice, in the Friends Provident Trophy against Durham and Derby, picking up two wickets in each game.

Cheetham has spent two years on a scholarship at Old Trafford, while he was on the Lancashire Academy staff in 2006. He is joined by highly rated Liverpool Competition left-arm spinner Simon Kerrigan.

Steven Croft, Kyle Hogg, Oliver Newby, Steven Parry and Tom Smith are the other players to sign deals with Lancashire.

Watkinson said; “We have high hopes for all ten players, as they will form the backbone of our senior squad in the years ahead.

“A number of our younger players have had opportunities in this year’s Pro40 campaign. It has been very encouraging to see the energy, talent and commitment demonstrated by these players, and it bodes well for the future of Lancashire.”

All-rounder Croft is an integral part of Lancashire’s four-day and one-day team, while Hogg and Smith have shone at different times in the one-day game.

Bolton-born opener Brown, the 20-year-old former Atherton star, has recently broken into Lancashire’s Championship side. He has also played three Pro40 games this season Wicket-keeper Cross made his debut for the county in 2005, but is fighting it out with the more experienced Luke Sutton. The ex-Clifton star has been a regular in Lancashire’s Twenty20 Cup and Pro40 League campaigns this season.

And 21-year-old all-rounder Mullaney is currently the professional at Bolton Association side Atherton.

He made his Championship debut in a defeat at Nottinghamshire earlier this season, although has not featured in the one-day campaign as much as he would have liked.

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