Skipper Mellor left delighted as Leek make positive strides
ALEX Mellor says Leek can be happy with their lot after they brought the curtain down on their NSSCL Premier Division campaign with victory over Checkley.
The coronavirus pandemic forced the league to switch to alternative plans after recreational cricket was delayed until July.
The outcome was each team playing each other once over 11 weeks - and it proved to be a productive summer for Mellor on his return to Highfield.
After four years away from the club because of his commitments with Warwickshire, Mellor masterminded fourthplaced finish for the Moorlanders.
And he says his players’ efforts hinted at a positive future for the club.
“It was the first year back for me and the first for a few of the players,” said Mellor.
“The big thing was that we finished with four wins in a row and we’ve got a bunch of players who are all singing off the same hymn sheet.
“Ten of the lads were either born in Leek or have come through the junior system, a which is a positive. The club has had a few years where things have not gone their way, but we have developed a nice environment.”
This year’s format saw teams contest matches on a straight win/lose basis over 40 overs, rather than the traditional format employed by the NSSCL.
And Mellor admits that he has learnt plenty over the past 11 weeks.
“There was something on every game. On Saturday we knew that if we beat Checkley would finish above them so that was motivation,” added Mellor.
“We got off to a decent start, but when you suffer that first loss it’s interesting to see the character of the players and how they bounce back.
“I did learn a lot about the players and what we need to work on.
“Over the winter we don’t need massive tweaks in the squad, it’s more about the players we have tweaking their own games.
“The talent is there, but for some of them it’s only their first or second year playing Premier Division cricket.
“Some of them are still raw, but it’s been a learning curve.
“You look at youngsters like Josh Hudson and Rory Corden. They have performed well and the challenge for them now is to take that on to next year.”
Next summer will see a fresh look to the North Staffs and South Cheshire League.
Proposals have been put forward to play half of the games under the traditional win/lose/draw format, with
the other 50 per cent being played as straight win or lose.
That is a model which has been in operation in the Birmingham League - and Mellor has experienced that during his time with both
Leamington and Walsall.
He has given the thumbs up to the proposals.
“I think the half-and-half format works well and it does promote positive cricket,” explained the Leek skipper.
“The win/lose games means teams have to be a bit more pro-active. There’s been times when a side might have dug in for a draw, but that wasn’t available.
“So they’ve had a go at the
target and ended up winning the game.
“It’s more exciting for players and spectators.
“There’s obviously still a place for the traditional set-up and it’s a nice mixture.”