1DARWEN'S new Australian professional Peter Skuse makes his Northern Cricket League bow for the club at Birch Hall tomorrow in the first stage of a weekend double-header against Blackpool.

For The Seasiders are due back in Darwen again on Sunday for a first round tie in the Abbott Ale national knockout competition.

Queenslander Skuse, who has played in the Central Lancashire League for the past three seasons, is a highly-rated batsman.

And his ability to bowl off-spin will also be useful following the departure of Ian Critchley, who will be playing for Egerton later this summer when he has recovered from a shoulder operation.

Experienced hands David Bonner and Graham Ainslie have now stepped down to second-team cricket, while Jeff Hacking has moved on to Blackburn Northern.

Chairman Peter Lamster is hoping the changes do not weaken Darwen's bid to have another successful summer.

And, indeed, he expects to see some of the promising young Birch Hall talent pushing for regular first team places.

"We are hoping that players such as Salim Ugradar, who has been netting at Old Trafford this winter, and Duncan Whalley and Chris Lowe, who have both represented Lancashire at schoolboy level, can make an impression," he said.

Blackpool will have their Sri Lankan professional Yasas Tillekaratne on duty for tomorrow's league clash (1-45pm start), but professionals are not allowed to play in Sunday's national knockout game (2pm).

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