Our aspiration from start was promotion
over half a season left.
And the mixture of youth and experience at his disposal means he has no qualms about quality with either bat or ball.
“Josh Megson is a good young talent at Yorkshire who started with the first team last year and is now a solid member of the team,” explained Kitson.
“Jack Hepworth is another, then we made the signing of Brad Geldart this year, who is a good all-round cricketer, so we have everything to look forward to.
“The opportunity is there for us because from the results so far, it seems everybody can beat everybody else, but obviously we want to stop that so that no-one beats us!
“To be honest, with the talent we’ve got, there is just as much strength in the batting and the bowling.
“We can score plenty of runs, but we can also bowl teams out for 50 or 60, as we have shown already.
“With cricket, it comes down to concentration and togetherness. Those are key factors which we have and that’s why we feel we have a good opportunity to go straight back up,”
Former captain James Crossland remains in the team as a valuable left-arm opener for the bowling attack, while Luke Webster, Richard Wimpenny and Shaun Alderson have pretty much seen it all at Drakes level.
Allan Greenwood is in excellent form, too, at the top of the batting order, having hit 18 fours and two sixes in his fine unbeaten 124 in the seven-wicket win over the Wes.
“It’s important in every side to have youth, but it’s just as important to have your experienced players,” added Kitson.
“James Crossland has been around this circuit for a long time and he is a very important contributor for us.
“Shaun Alderson is another massive influence who has played against these players and teams before who can offer some great advice.
“For me as a new captain it’s priceless.
“It can be tough being captain but, like I’ve said, we’ve got some very good players.
“Because of the bunch of lads we’ve got it makes captaincy so much easier. One and off the field we are all good pals, so it does make it easier.”
Skelmanthorpe have Under 9s this season but no older age-group sides in the Sellers Junior League, and they’ve struggled on occasions to turn out a full second team, in common with a number of other clubs.
Kitson says no-one should be surprised.
“It’s tough, but it’s just life in general,” he mused.
“When you play cricket, you grow up missing matches for birthday parties and the like, and when you get older it’s stag dos and weddings.
“It’s just part of life that there are so many more things for people to do these days, and quite a few clubs are in the same position with their second teams.” BEN Stokes has been called up for England’s one-day international series against India as the all-rounder returns to the squad following a hamstring injury.
The 27-year-old has not played an ODI since March but is hoping to prove his fitness and will play for Durham Jets in their Vitality Blast 20-over match with Yorkshire Vikings on July 5.
Stokes will look to seize his chance playing for Durham, with the England and Wales Cricket Board confirming he could be drafted in for the third and final T20 international meeting with India ahead of the ODI series. He missed the recent 5-0 whitewash against Australia after injuring his hamstring ahead of a Test against Pakistan in June but will be keen to work his way back into a winning side.
Fellow all-rounder Chris Woakes has not been included in the initial 14-man squad but may still feature in the threematch series if he recovers from knee and leg injuries.
Surrey’s Tom Curran was the other injury doubt, having suffered a side-strain against Australia, but he makes the squad - with brother Sam missing the cut along with Sam Billings of Kent.
The series gets under way on July 12 at Trent Bridge, with Lord’s and Headingley hosting the second and third matches, respectively.
A five-Test series will follow but focus will be on the short forms in the coming weeks with the likes of Stokes and Woakes potentially making their comebacks. FLOCKTON Cricket Club are celebrating their 150th anniversary this year.
The associate members of the Drakes League have a proud history, most recently in the now defunct Huddersfield Central League.
To celebrate, they will be staging an anniversary match on Sunday, August 5.
Players past and present will be asked to gather from noon onwards and the match will start at around 1.30pm.
It’s free, spectators are welcome and there will be food, bouncy castle and other family attractions.