Hitchenor enjoys new lease of life

11:18am Sunday 24th August 2008

There were times in the recent past when Craig Hitchenor did not know whether he would play cricket again.

Having missed the whole of the 2006 season and half the 2007 campaign because of tendinitis in his right knee that required an operation, that was entirely understandable.

However, the Baildon paceman, who took three for 27 in their comprehensive win at Cleckheaton on Saturday, did eventually make his comeback thanks to the not inconsiderable help of a top physio.

Hitchenor, who began his league career by helping Rawdon win the Aire-Wharfe League title prior to moving to Baildon, Bilton and Farsley before returning to Jenny Lane, said: “There is always that element of doubt whenever you go in for an operation.

“The injury first surfaced in my last season at Farsley but I thought it was one of those niggles that would go away given rest.

“But during my first net that winter I realised it was more of a problem that I first thought and I found out I needed an operation.

“Wayne Morton (former Yorkshire and England physio) had by then set up his own practice in Collingham and he gave me an intensive recovery programme and helped me to build my quads up.

“Now I don’t even think about the injury and the only difference between me then and me now is old age!”

Having suffered a heavy defeat at Saltaire (nine wickets) and being bowled out for 48 in a seven-wicket setback at Pudsey Congs, Baildon were in need of a fillip and gave themselves one at Moorend.

After winning the toss on a wicket that was always giving assistance, Hitchenor took the first three wickets to put Cleckheaton on the back foot.

Craig Thornton (11) and Neil Nicholson (14) mounted a partial recovery but the hosts lost their last four wickets for just one run as Mushtaq Ahmed (9-6-7-2) and Ahsan Butt (8.1-1-15-4) proved a formidable duo.

A total of under 100 never looked enough and although Baildon were reduced to 41 for three, Ian Wardlaw bowling a good hostile line and leg-spinner Tom Pringle causing problems from ball one onwards (a beauty which did for Matthew Duce), the visitors were seen home by a disciplined stand between Butt (24 not out) and Jonny Reynolds (25 not out).

Having got his eye in, Butt attacked anything pitched up while Reynolds – apart from one blemish off Ian Wood – just picked off the singles until he took toll of some short-of-a-length deliveries by John Wood.

Hitchenor said of their performance: “Mushtaq is the best spinner in the league. It is disappointing that we didn’t have a run in either cup but it will have been a good season if we can finish in the top four.”

Baildon are currently fourth, five points behind East Bierley and nine ahead of Pudsey St Lawrence.

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