A FORMER Test cricketer was due at Shaw Lane this week to try to help Barnsley Woolley Miners get over their poor start to the season.
The Shaw Laners were hoping to compete for the ECB Yorkshire Premier title this season but are currently in the relegation zone after winning just one of their first six games.
The latest result was a comprehensive defeat to near neighbours Cawthorne at home on Saturday, as they were skittled for 74 in 42 overs.
They were due to bring in New Zealander Craig Cumming – father of their current overseas player Jacob Cumming – to put on a specialist session last night. Cumming, who played 11 Test matches for New Zealand and 13 One Day Internationals, is now the coach of the Otago Sparks women’s team.
Captain Liam Johnson said: “Craig is in the area this week and offered to help us with a specialist session.
“We’ll be doing some match practice to get some confidence back.
“It’s going back to basics.
“It’s an opportunity to pick the brain of an international cricketer and it could be priceless for us.”
Johnson is not sure why his side have struggled so far this season.
He said: “It’s difficult to put your finger on it.
“We know how good we are but we’re just not clicking.
“I hold my hands up against Cawthorne – I played a loose shot, gave my wicket away and started it all.
“We were outbatted and outbowled.
“We’re still not that worried but we’ve had some disappointing results and that was the worst of the lot.
“We got a win in the Twenty20 Blast against Wakefield on Sunday and, given the results in the last couple of weeks, we showed a lot of character and can take a lot of confidence from that.
“It’s there. We just need to be more consistent.”
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