JAMAICAN opening bowler Joe Grant is ready to blitz Great Harwood at The Arbories tomorrow as Padiham begin their defence of the Vaux Ribblesdale League.

The 26-year-old pace man has just finished a successful season in the Red Stripe and Shell Sunday one days.

He is fully aware of the expectations at Padiham, who won the title for the first time since 1966 last year, and is up for the challenge.

"Padiham are the champions and I really have to work hard to retain the title for them," said Grant.

"I realise that the wickets are slow here and that a bowler won't get any assistance from them right now.

"But I learned my Cricket at Haringey Cricket School from 1987 to 1990, so I'm used to the slowness of the wickets.

"Naturally, as a bowler, you like the ball bouncing around the batsman's ears.

"But I know that won't be happening, especially early on."

Grant scored a century in a friendly against a Blackburn Brookhouse side and is clearly in form.

And although Peter Usher and Malcolm Heyworth have left for Read in the close season, Padiham still have one of the strongest sides in the league.

"The guys are great - they welcomed me and they're really taking care of me," said Grant.

"So I can't let them down."

TOMORROW'S FIXTURES: Cherry Tree v Barnoldswick; Edenfield v Earby; Gt Harwood v Clitheroe; Padiham v Blackburn N; Read v Whalley; Ribblesdale W v Baxenden; Settle v Osw Immanuel

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