Several of the Cumbria Cricket League club professionals won’t be here for the start of the new season which opens on Saturday.
In Whitehaven’s case, it’s not down to any visa delays but the fact that their new signing Timycen Maruma, a Zimbabwean international has a broken hand.
He suffered the injury batting in Zimbabwe on April 13 and is expected to be out for up to five weeks.
Whitehaven moved for Maruma when last season’s successful pro Terence Warde was ruled out because of an extension of the West Indies season to June.
They are currently on the hunt for a sub professional to visit Workington in the derby clash at the Valentine Ground.
Workington
Workington have already welcomed back their Sri Lankan pro Lahiru Dilshan and he will be in the side on Saturday.
There are a couple missing because of a stag do but Workington have some highly promising youngsters coming through who are expected to get increased opportunities this season.
Furness
Furness will start the defence of their title at home to Haverigg but will be without their 2021 professional Promod Maduwantha who proved such a valuable member of the team.
Visa problems meant he was unable to return for this season and the champions have brought in the Pakistani all-rounder Saeed Khan, but he won’t be here for the opening game. As a result, they are also trying to book a sub pro for Saturday.
Keswick
Keswick, who have Paul Hindmarch back in the ranks, will be going into action for the first time in ten years without popular pro Geeth Kumara who had opted for a change after a decade of loyal and outstanding service.
It will be interesting to see how Sri Lankan Rishith Upamal gets on as he was recommended to the club by his fellow countryman Kumara. They start with a home game against Dalton who are relying on an overseas amateur for 2022.
Cockermouth
Cockermouth, who have lost Hindmarch, but have signed Cumbria county player Matthew Siddall, had lined-up Pakistani international Usman Salahuddin. That fell through because of a failure to meet an ECB deadline which resulted in the club not being allowed to recruit a professional.
Consequently, the Sandair club signed overseas amateur Asad Afridi who will be in the line-up for their opening clash at home to Carlisle.
The city side have signed Nico Watt from Wigton while the ultra-consistent Michael Slack has committed to three more years as a professional.
They will be without all-rounder Jonathan Davidson this season as he has moved away and will be playing for the Sale club in Manchester, but Chris Blythe, a left-arm seam bowler, has returned to the city after time on Merseyside where he played for the Liverpool club.
Cleator
Cleator are at home to Millom with the hosts waiting for their new professional Kasun Madushanka to arrive from Sri Lanka.
An opening pace bowler and middle-order batsman, he has just obtained his visa and flies into the UK next week so they are another club currently looking for a sub pro.
The village side also expect to see more of powerful opening batsman Dave Watson this summer while James Rogers has taken over the captaincy from Tom Sharp.
There’s a lot of excitement around the Egremont club as it prepares for a return to the Premier Division. There was initial disappointment when the original choice as pro fell through, but they appear to have signed a very good overseas amateur in Jason Grosvenor.
Egremont, start their third attempt at Premier Division cricket at home to Wigton, and are intent on staying up this time.
Wigton
Wigton, who have lost Nico Watt to Carlisle, have retained Chris Hodgson as their professional again.
