Barbadian Haynes defies cold in Heaton
HANGING Heaton CC is a short, steep walk up and up from Batley railway station to their Bennett Lane HQ. Their opening Bradford Premier League fixture of 2017 pitted them against promoted side Townville with Bresnan brothers, Nick and Ritchie.
Hanging Heaton had to admit defeat on the appearance of their overseas spinner Muhammad Rameez, whose debut season last year (60 wickets at 13.77) as an unknown 20-year-old saw him bag more wickets than anyone else.
While Rameez was back in Pakistan waiting on his visa, Townville had recruited West Indian allrounder Shkym Haynes; a 19-year-old from Barbados who was achingly relaxed when we talked.
Though the plummeting temperature was proving a culture shock, Haynes had set clear ambitions in his first time in England: “The team taking home the cup and for my personal achievement, at least 450 runs and 20 wickets.”
He looked thoroughly cold as Townville fielded first but when called upon second change, Haynes delivered a sizzling yorker to clean up Hanging Heaton’s No.3, Richard Foster, en route to 1-24.
Time will tell what impact Haynes could have at Hanging Heaton, whose already-strong squad are expected to really push for the title; their recruitment of Callum Geldart from Pudsey Congs was smart winter business and his 4-32 helped dismiss Townville for 120 and wrap up ten league points.
You wouldn’t expect double-hundreds on English wickets in April but Muhammad Akhlaq raised eyebrows when the 24-yearold batsman from Lahore hit 214 not out for Methley as his side beat Ossett in the Bradford Premier League’s lower tier, Championship One.
The Bradford Premier League remains a coveted standard and though those on the fringes of international cricket are no longer stepping out at Pudsey or Bradford, the stars of tomorrow, both overseas and home-grown, are pushing to catch the eye and make a name for themselves.