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Latest
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A
look ahead to the 2003 season
with new
First Team Manager Ian Wilson
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I genuinely believe if we can put a couple of decent runs together we can finish half way up the table. We need to crack on from where we were last year. We have some good young players coming through. Last season Mohsin Ahmed and Jimmy Hayhurst came into the side and did reasonably well. Mohsin got 500 runs and I would like to see him repeat that. I'd like to see the likes of Jimmy and Graeme Sneddon, who is a really good prospect, pushing into the first team this year.
I'm looking for at least 1,000 runs from professional Andre Seymore and I'd like to see him bowling more and taking more wickets. I also think he has a big role to play with the youngsters. The fact that he is coming back for a second season will give us some stability. We're not going to spend the first five games having to get to know the pro'. The captain Damian Clarke and Andre both work very well together and it will be nice to get that from the start of the season rather than from half a dozen games in.
I think we have a good balance through the side. In comparison with a lot of teams in the league, we have a young side, with one or two older heads.
Steve Juliff will be on hand again to pass on his invaluable assistance and his winning attitude to the youngsters. If we can get some of the youngsters to come through and fulfill their potential, we have a good chance on improving on our results of the last two seasons.
Matt Wilson is capable of scoring 200 runs a season more than he has done so far for the club, and I'd like to see him joining in the party in May and June rather than in July and August as he usually does.
I'm disappointed that Tariq Hussain will miss the start of the season. If you look at some of the more experienced players like Adam Greenwood and Adam Barnes, who had a great season behind the sticks last year, I'd like to see them both go on from there.
A cup run would be great. We have a bye in the first round of the Worsley Cup so we are one game away from the semi finals and two from the final. With some kindness from the draw, you never know. I think we are capable of beating most sides on the day.
The squad is stronger than last year because the younger players are going to improve. Waheed is a whole hearted player who always gives 100 per cent and John Pilling has come to us with a good reputation.