Carlisle’s promising off spin bowler Josh Stirling has a very special reason for missing his team’s trip to Wigton on Saturday.
He will be bowling at the England players in the Old Trafford nets ahead of their One Day International against India on Sunday.
The teenage prospect, who has already played one game for Lancashire 2nds last season, has been invited to join the county’s bowlers who will be working with the England batsmen.
England were badly beaten by ten wickets in the opening ODI on Tuesday and previously lost the three-match T20 series 2-1.
Mark Davidson, the Carlisle secretary said: “It’s going to be a great experience for Josh who is really well thought of by the people at Lancashire. Bowling at England stars in the nets is an opportunity to showcase his own talents as well.”
Stirling is fresh from county duty with Cumbria where his batting almost turned an impossible situation into a winning one. He shared in a ninth wicket stand of 71 with Cockermouth’s Matthew Sempill to keep Cumbria hopes alive but eventually they lost by 34 runs. He was unbeaten on 19.
Carlisle, after their home defeat by seven wickets to Cockermouth last week, are off the top of the Cumbria League’s Premier Division for the first time this season – and are now a point behind their conquerors.
Still very much in the race for the title, they will be anxious to get back to winning ways when they travel to Wigton with Chris Blythe coming in for young Stirling.
Wigton will also be anxious to pick-up the winning thread again after last week’s home defeat by bottom side Egremont.
Cockermouth are back at home to Whitehaven, who replaced Egremont at the foot of the table when they lost at home to Workington.
Reigning champions Furness are only fourth this time, some 20 points behind leaders Cockermouth, but it’s proving to be a golden summer for opening batsman Nathan Waterston.
He hit his third century of the season last week in the win over Haverigg and has scored 817 runs at an average of 116.71. Tomorrow he will be hoping to get nearer the magic 1,000 when Furness host Dalton.
Keswick are in third place, still very much in contention only eight points behind the leaders and in Risith Upamal have the batsman closest to Waterston with 664 runs (avge 73.78). They visit Cleator.
Egremont, buoyed by their win at Wigton, will be desperate to follow-up with back-to-back wins when they host Haverigg who are just seven points ahead of them.
Workington, who are sixth, entertain the team just above them in the table, Millom.
