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Picking up the pace

27/ 1/2003

A FORMER Lancashire cricketer is hoping to rebuild his career with a spell at Middleton.

Teenager Ben Tighe, of Addison Avenue, Boarshaw, looks set to join Middleton Cricket Club this summer following a year out of the sport.

He said: "I have heard a lot of good things about the excellent facilities and quality at Middleton, so hopefully this will help me get my career back on track. I needed some time to concentrate on work and earning some money, but now I feel ready to devote more time to my cricket."

The 16-year-old pace bowler, who is expected to put pen to paper in March, was part of Lancashire's youth set up for two years until a back injury hampered his progress.

"When the trials came up for the next season, I forced myself to struggle through. Obviously I didn't really play well, and I didn't get into the squad," he said. "I was really disappointed at the time because some of my friends I'd played with for a while got in."

To add insult to injury, Ben, who received a £500 sports grant for his cricketing, later discovered he would have made the final cut if he had missed the trial out completely.

"Some time later I bumped into the manager who turned me down. He told me that he didn't know about the injury and would've just asked for a report on how I'd done the previous season. I'm pretty sure that would've seen me through."

Now, following a year in the wilderness, he feels he is ready once again to prove he has great potential. He has become an integral part of local cricket academy, Crusaders Cricket Elite.

"It's been a great way to get into playing again," he said. "We've been doing some work in the gym, which is something I'm just getting used to, but I'm sure my game will improve as I get fitter. I've also been working more on my batting, which seems to be coming on a lot now."

The initiative, which is run by Middleton's Australian all-rounder Anthony Graham, helps to develop young talent in Manchester.

Anthony said: "Ben has just become a part of the set up , so it's hard to tell how far he can go just yet. He wasn't in the frame anywhere for a while, so this will him help him get back into it."