CRICKET — Greenock Playing Two Friendlies This WeekendGREENOCK Cricket Club’s season gets under way this weekend with two ‘friendly’ matches at Glenpark.
On Saturday, Renfrew are the visitors and on Sunday, West of Scotland provide the opposition and are likely to provide a good test.
Renfrew, a Division One team, were in the Premier Division for a number of seasons and will be aiming to make a return to the top level at the end of the summer. The ‘Ferrymen’ have had a significant influx of new players since the end of last season with more than a dozen players moving to the club from Weirs CC in Glasgow. A number of their players have also recently transferred out to other clubs in the west district.
West of Scotland are sending a Development XI to Glenpark on Sunday, which will give both clubs the opportunity to play a mix of young players along with some more experienced players.
Greenock’s preparations for the new season have been going well, with players using indoors nets on a weekly basis since the end February.
Neil Flack, one of Greenock’s most talented cricketers and also former Scotland Under-19 captain, continues with the captaincy of the 1st XI at Glenpark for a second season and he will be keen to see his side make a strong start to the Premier Division season when it gets under way at the end of April.
In his side will be two overseas players. Indian professional, Saurabh Bandekar returns to Glenpark for a second season and 20-year-old amateur Zac Barrenechea joins the Club from New South Wales in Australia . However, neither of the two overseas players is available to play this weekend as they are not scheduled to arrive in Greenock until the middle of next week.
Experienced players Shailesh Prabhu, Jack Griffiths, Sehmat Pandher, Chirag Pandher, Sam Sanghera and Rod Mountford will be among those likely to be involved against Renfrew and West of Scotland.
Scotland Under-15 international Sean Fischer-Keogh and other up and coming young players including Jamie Nowell, Tom Forrest, Lukas Fischer-Keogh, Ewan Stewart, PJ Bryceland and Cammy Calder will very probably be among others who will play in at least one of the matches.
However, several of Greenock’s experienced 1st XI players will be missing as they are taking the opportunity to travel abroad on holiday this weekend before the competitive season starts.
Others who will very possibly make themselves available to play in one of the weekend matches include the evergreen Peter Robertson, Ali Calder, Dave Sharma, Mark Farrell and Kevin Flack.
Groundsman Stuart MacLean has been working with a team of assistants since early March and their efforts have got Glenpark into good shape for the new season despite the very variable weather conditions which they have had to work through. The matches on Saturday and Sunday at Glenpark will both start at 1pm.
