Report: Gerard Willey

A recent EGM to elect a new captain for Aughton Cricket Club following the departure of Harry Carbery has taken place and the Winifred Lane club are delighted to have secured the services of popular utility man Josh Ravenscroft to lead the club for the 2024 season.


A sanguine Ravencroft sat down with the Aughton cricket correspondent to share some thoughts on the upcoming season.


During the 2023 campaign Ravenscroft was the vice skipper to Carbery and when asked his ambitions and goals for this season he commented: “I want to continue to develop on what Harry and I created last campaign. A club where people enjoy playing cricket”.

He continued: “We need to be able to show ourselves for the reasons people love playing for Aughton and hopefully we’ll pull more people to do that”.


A coy skipper didn’t want to give to much away when asked about his particular brand of cricket but did comment: “I’ll introducing Razball, what that transpires to be I’m not too sure yet myself but we are better placed this season to be more positive” rather than the depooperit style of play employed by his predecessor Carbery.


Perhaps the most important contribution Ravenscroft has made so far is persuading the talented all rounder Dan Malone back to the club following knee surgery. In the 2022 season, Malone forged a devastating new ball opening partnership with Gary Taylor and scored more than useful runs in the top order.


Other returning players are ex captains Andrew Barnes and the most successful captain of recent times Johnny Ford who has returned from travelling the globe.


Other new signings are all rounders Prateek Agnihotri, Ansul Jain, Satyam Saxena and all round sportsman Hayden Daw known as Eddie.


On a disappointing note batsman/leg spinner Vasnath has left the club to join Prescott where they’d be advised not to let him umpire any games.


Ravenscroft has shrewdly surrounded himself with experienced players who he can lean on whist reducing the average age of the squad. He can be optimistic the club will do better than 2023 where they narrowly avoided relegation. He can count himself fortunate though to still be able to count on stalwarts Mick Harnick and Skelmersdale entrepreneur Gary Taylor who both turn 60 this month but remain as fit as ever. In the case of 2023 player of the year Taylor his finifugal attitude will serve him well in the twilight of his career.


Sadly though for Taylor the season has been postponed for at least one week due to the terrible weather endured so far this spring with either the 27th April or 4th of May the new start dates. The Aughton ground staff may have their work cut out if the weather doesn’t improve but will give their all to get the game on.