COMP GETS THUMBS UP FROM KERRIGAN

Date: 22nd April 2014

A Paul Edwards copyright exclusive for L&DCC Official Website.

Timed cricket and quality of teams and pitches a plus.

England spinner Simon Kerrigan believes the timed cricket played in the Liverpool Competition helps explain its attraction to young Lancashire players trying to establish themselves in the professional game.

Kerrigan has played for ECB Premier League powerhouse Ormskirk since 2008 having moved from Palace Shield club Fulwood and Broughton where he started out as a medium pacer. He has since won the County Championship with Lancashire and played Test cricket in last summer’s Ashes match at the Oval.

But he is one of a “team” of Red Rose players who have represented Liverpool Competition clubs in recent years, with the likes of Stephen Parry (Bootle), Karl Brown (Leigh), Paul Horton (Sefton Park and Northern), Luke Procter (New Brighton) and Alex Davies (Lytham) all able to play when county commitments allow.

"Once a few of the lads started playing there, it got a reputation as a good league," said the 24-year-old left-arm spinner. "That obviously helped bring more young Academy players there. The grounds are good, the pitches are really good and the format of it, being timed cricket, helps you if you want to progress your first-class game.

"I know that kind of cricket isn’t for everybody, with many preferring 50-over matches, but timed cricket, where you can bat for as long as you want, certainly makes links to the Championship game.

"In my opinion, it is the best league in the North West. I've not played in the Northern League or the Cheshire League or the Lancashire League, but the depth of the Liverpool Comp at the moment is fantastic. Anyone can beat anyone.

"There was a phase when Bootle won it all the time or Ormskirk won it regularly. But, over the last six or seven years, there's been a lot of different winners."

Kerrigan only played four league matches last summer, and he is not expecting to play many more this year. But he is still hopeful that Ormskirk can bridge the gap between last season's second-placed finish and champions Northern.

He added: "We've got a really good side at Ormskirk. Gavin Griffiths is there, ex-Lancs Scholarship player Nicky Caunce is there too and we've got a good balance between youth and experience.

"We've got an experienced batter in Johnny Armstrong, who played some Lancashire Second XI stuff a number of years ago, and our captain Ian Robinson has been captain for three or four years, so he knows what it's all about."