Enfield turn to super sub Mike

The Lancashire and former England all-rounder has played for both clubs as susbtitute professional over the past fortnight but tomorrow his colours will be pinned firmly to the Enfield mast.

``He had a good game last week and it's a confidence-booster to have a Test player in your side,'' confirmed Enfield skipper Andy Barker.

Enfield were thwarted by Lowerhouse's ninth-wicket pair last Saturday as they were held to a draw.

But they are just a point behind Haslingden in fourth place and have every incentive to finish the season strongly.

Barker added: ``The top two are probably too far in front but we have a good chance of finishing in the top three and that's the target I have set.

``Looking at the run-in I am quite optimistic provided we have a professional of the quality of Mike Watkinson.''

Watkinson is deputising for Ottis Gibson who has a back injury which could make him doubtful for Barbados's Commonwealth Games challenge next month.

And Accrington will also have a substitute professional with Matthew Hart again standing in for Ryan Campbell. The New Zealander is the paid man at Wigan but stood in last Saturday and helped Accrington to a win over Burnley.

The slow left-armer took 5-44 and scored 45 as Accrington, at home to Ramsbottom today, picked up only their third victory of the season to give them a chance of getting off the bottom of the table this weekend.

However, that won't be easy if they need to take points from Enfield who were at Bacup today.

``In derby games form goes out of the window. Everybody wants to do well and they will be on a high after last weekend but we turned them over fairly easily earlier this season so we will be pretty confident,'' said Barker.

The Enfield skipper won't be able to call upon promising young striker bowler Liam Jackson as he has a fractured thumb but Bernard and Sam Reidy are available, along with first-choice wicket-keeper Russ Edmonds.

Second-placed East Lancashire, who face Nelson in a potential title-decider today, have Peter Sleep in their ranks for tomorrow's visit of Todmorden. Sleep, professional at Darwen, played for East Lancs in 1979. Vasbert Drakes will be looking to sign off on a high for Todmoredn before he heads for the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur with Barbados.

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

THE complete list of suggested rule changes to improve the Lancashire League, proposed by Todmorden player Brian Heywood is:

1. 50 overs per side;
2. Minimum of 20 overs to be available to each side in rain-affected games;
3. Win 6 points; tie or no result 3 points; loss 0 points;
4. Bonus points: 2 bowling points available in both innings, one for taking the seventh and one for taking the 10th wicket;
   1 batting point for scoring 175 which is also gained by the side batting second if it wins and doesn't have to score 175, unless chasing a reduced target of less than 175;
   1 batting point for the side batting second if it loses but isn't bowled out;
5. If the number of overs to be bowled to the side batting second is reduced by rain, their target to be the runs made by the side batting first in its best equivalent number of consecutive overs, e.g. if the second innings is reduced to 28 overs the target is the number of runs scored by the side batting first in its best consecutive 28 overs.