Hayhurst in Derbyshire leagues (14 April 1998)

14 April 1998

Hayhurst in Derbyshire

League Cricket Review

Andrew Hayhurst, the Director of Cricket in Derbyshire, has been registered as a player with Alvaston and Boulton in the Derbyshire County League, to re-establish a connection with league cricket in the North West which stretches back to the mid-1970's.

Andrew learnt his cricket at Worsley in the Manchester and District Association, where his father was one of the club's stalwarts. He rapidly gained a reputation as a more than useful all-rounder and eventually drew the attention of Lancashire. He made his 1st XI debut against Leicestershire at Old Trafford in 1985, scoring 17 and taking 3 for 37. That was to be his only 1st XI game of 1985, and his appearances for the county were sporadic over the following six years. In the late 1980's Lancashire had a very strong side, with internationals like Graham Fowler, Paul Allott, Neil Fairbrother, Mike Watkinson, Phil DeFreitas and Wasim Akram, whilst Mike Atherton and Peter Martin were graduating into the senior side. David Hughes was a kind of non-playing captain at this time as well, which left Andy with little opportunity to establish himself in the 1st XI. He had his best season with the county in 1988, when he scored 492 first class runs, including his only century for the club, and took 17 wickets. In 1990, Andrew decided to further his career with Somerset. Lancashire did not want him to leave as he was seen as a model professional and an integral part of a first team squad which was about to achieve what was then a unique one-day double. The Lancashire Yearbook of 1990 paid him this glowing tribute: "He leaves with the good wishes of everyone at Old Trafford and he knows he will always be welcome at the Club he has served with distinction and loyalty."

Indeed, his move to Somerset proved a springboard for his own first class career. In seven seasons in the West Country he scored a further 6,634 first class runs, including 13 centuries, and added another 60 wickets. Somerset thought highly enough of him to appoint him as captain and he presided over a team which showed gradual improvement despite their limited resources. As so often happens in the county game these days, Andrew became a victim of internal politics and was clumsily dismissed during the 1996 season. Having showed disappointing form at the start of the season, he was dropped as captain and player and told to regain his touch in the second team. He scored plenty of runs in Somerset's 2nd XI but there was no way back for the affable Lancastrian. Released at the end of the year, he joined Derbyshire as 2nd XI captain for the 1997 season.

Out of the frying pan into the fire! Derbyshire County Cricket Club's problems in 1997 are well chronicled, suffice to say that after all the resignations, sackings and internal turmoil, Andrew survived to be appointed Director of Cricket for the county, where he has already gained a reputation as a hard-working and enthusiastic individual interested in all aspects of cricket in the county. His registration with Alvaston & Boulton sees him return to the leagues, where he achieved such a formidable reputation in the Manchester area in the late 1970's and early 1980's. In 1997 Alvaston & Boulton finished fourth in the Derbyshire County League, one of the strongest in the country, but with the help of Andrew Hayhurst they may do even better in 1998.

Source :: League Cricket Review