Lancashire League: Pringle - My worst season with bat (19 July 1997)
HITTING balls on the golf course has been far more enjoyable for Meyrick Pringle this summer than trying to do the same on the cricket field
19-Jul-1997
19 July 1997
'It's my worst season with the bat' admits Pringle
Lancashire Evening Telegraph
HITTING balls on the golf course has been far more enjoyable for Meyrick
Pringle this summer than trying to do the same on the cricket field.
"It's probably the worst season I've ever had with the bat," declared the
South African who has appeared in three Tests for his country and in
numerous one day internationals.
"At home last season I was scoring loads and loads of runs.
"My club side, Bellville, finished second in the Premier League.
"I just don't know what's gone wrong this summer."
And no matter how many birdies he picks up on the fairways of East
Lancashire, it cannot make up for his dearth of runs on the county's
wickets.
"It has definitely been disappointing for me," he added.
"But anyone can have a bad season."
Pringle's bad run has been mirrored throughout defending Lancashire League
champions Rishton's performances this season and they are a side very much
on the rack going into tomorrow's encounter against champions-elect
Haslingden.
But, although he rules out a successful defence of their title, Pringle
insists that the Blackburn Road side still have plenty to play for.
"We were the champions last year and we've still got that reputation," he
said.
"We've still got our pride. We have to play to the best of our ability.
"The reason we are not up in the position Haslingden are now is that we
haven't played to our potential.
"This happens to the best of teams. Just look at Australia, they're not
playing great at the moment.
"Talking to the other South African professionals in the league, they all
think we have a very strong batting side and we just haven't put it
together.
"It just hasn't happened for us."
Haslingden's chances of maintaining their present momentum has not been
helped by the departure due to injury of professional Brad McNamara.
Leicestershire's Gordon Parsons, who played for Church last weekend, fills
in for McNamara. But Haslingden are also without their captain, Mark
Griffin, who has a mild dose of glandular fever and has been advised by
his doctor to take the weekend off.
"It's always difficult when a team loses their professional, particularly
one as influential as McNamara was," said Pringle. "We haven't played
Haslingden yet this season so I haven't seen them, apart from two of their
batsman in a friendly game who both performed well.
"But we're looking to get back on track and will be going all guns out to
win tomorrow.
We would like to finish off the season well, with a flourish.
"And we couldn't begin better than by beating Haslingden tomorrow."
Fixtures:Colne v Burnley, Enfield v Church, Lowerhouse v Nelson,
Ramsbottom v East Lancs, Rawtenstall v Accrington, Rishton v Haslingden,
Todmorden v Bacup.