Lancashire League: Young prepared to gamble (11 Jul 1998)

11 July 1998

Young prepared to gamble

The Lancashire Evening Telegraph

BRAD Young has just three more games to try to take East Lancs into pole position before quitting the EW Cartons Lancashire League for an Australian A tour.

And, after just three months in English league cricket, the South Australia all-rounder reckons he knows just what his team must do if they are to snatch the championship away from long-time leaders Nelson - be prepared to gamble.

"I think that's the key," said Young who pits his wits against another of the contenders Enfield at Alexandra Meadows tomorrow.

"From what I have found, there are still a lot of teams who play negatively.

"If you are going to win the league you have to be prepared to back yourself to bowl sides out or to have a go at a run chase.

"You really have to have a crack at it."

Young knows how important it is to maintain a winning streak, especially against teams like Enfield who are on ly 13 points adrift of second-placed East Lancs, despite the Blackburn side's 24-point weekend when the pro was in top form with both bat and ball.

"Actually we were a little bit lucky, we got out of jail on both days," he said. "But it kept us in touch and we have to keep winning games and hope that a few sides are good enough to beat Nelson or at least draw with them.

"It's close at the moment. There are perhaps four or five teams up there but you have to be prepared to take a chance and back yourselves to win.

"The weather has been a problem and with the amount of spinners around it makes our job a lot harder bowling with a wet ball.

"I'm just lucky I am with a side that is capable of winning games.

"I don't think there is a huge amount of difference between most of the teams or such a large gap between top and bottom," he added. "You need a bit of luck and a few decisions to go for you."

Before he bows out against Colne at home on July 26, East Lancs have a date the previous day with Bacup in the semi-finals of the inter-league knockout.

Tomorrow's games: Accrington v Rishton; Bacup v Lowerhouse; Burnley v Rawtenstall; Church v Ramsbottom; East Lancs v Enfield; Haslingden v Colne; Nelson v Todmorden.

Source :: Lancashire Evening Telegraph (https://www.reednews.co.uk/let/)