Cameron Murray says he wants to maintain a prominent leadership role within Kearsley’s first team having stepped away from the captaincy mid-season.

Murray resigned as skipper at Springfield Road six weeks ago, replaced at the helm by off-spinner Neylan Chauhan.

The Anglo-Australian all-rounder felt it was the right time for a change having “given eight or nine years to the job”.

Kearsley currently sit eighth in the Premiership table in the Anthony Axford North West Cricket League and were hoping for better than their eight wins from 16 games so far, the latest of which came at Astley Bridge last Saturday.

Murray contributed heavily to a four-wicket win with two wickets bowling spin and a quickfire 40 off 19 balls to break the back of a chase of only 101.

But, as well as on-field performances, he believes he can help his captain Chauhan and Kearsley’s up and comers progress in the coming months and seasons.

“For me, I’m getting on a bit,” he said. “I’m older than most of the other lads, and I just think it needs a bit of a freshen up. And there’s no better time to do it while I’m still there and can help the younger lads coming through.

“I gave it up six weeks ago and gave it to our pro Jono (Bird, South African) initially, but he unfortunately went home injured. But we’re looking in a new direction and thought Neylan was the ideal candidate to take it on.

“As a captain, it’s fairly new to him. He has a lot to learn, but he’s fitted into it well so far. He has the backing of all the lads and the club, which is a massive part of succeeding as a captain.”

On the summer as a whole, Murray continued: “If you look at the start of the season and the squad we have, we were hoping for top four. But unavailability has killed us. With three or four guys missing each week, it’s hard to get that consistency going.

“We played without a pro or an overseas amateur on Saturday.

“It’s been difficult, too, for teams around the North West to get sub pros. With the Lancashire League playing on Saturday, it was even harder at the weekend. We’ll try and get one for the next few games, but we had to go without on Saturday.”

So, really, is the rest of the campaign - Kearsley have six to play - about building confidence ahead of 2025?

“That’s the plan,” said the former skipper. “Touch wood, we’re pretty safe. If we win the next five or six games, there’s potential we could still achieve the aim of finishing top four. It’s a big ask, but you never know.

“We’ll give it all we can through to the end of the season, and hopefully that sets us up to go again in April.”

Saturday’s win saw Kearsley bowl Astley Bridge out for just 100 as former Sussex left-arm quick Naveed Gondal and captain Chauhan claimed three wickets apiece, added to two in two eventful overs from Murray.

“I bowled mostly right-arm off-spin, but I also bowled a couple of balls left-arm spin as well,” chuckled Murray. “They weren’t great but they got down there!

“Saturday was the first time I tried it. It came out well in the warm-ups, so I thought I’d give it a go. But I got told, ‘No, don’t do that again’.”

Whether Murray works on his ambidextrous bowling from now on remains to be seen, but someone doing that is certainly a rarity. In county cricket, Glamorgan spinner Ben Kellaway did it in a recent Metro Bank One-Day Cup game and claimed a wicket with off and left-arm spin.

Batting is certainly Murray’s stronger suit, and his opening 40 was a key innings to give the visitors significant breathing space. He shared 51 for the second wicket with Kian Patel (31) to advance from 14-1.

Kearsley then fell from 65-1 to 90-6, but the hard work had been done and they got over the line against the Premiership’s bottom side.

“We would have liked to do it a lot easier,” added Murray.

“We got off to a good start through myself and Kian, which kind of did the hard work. But with not having a pro and an overseas, also missing a couple of first-teamers, we couldn’t take it for granted.

“But it was good to see some lads who don’t play a lot for us contribute to getting us over the line.”

Tomorrow’s fixtures: Premiership - Eagley v Salesbury, Farnworth v Farnworth Social Circle, Kearsley v Little Lever, Lostock v Blackrod, Ribblesdale Wanderers v Padiham, Tonge v Astley Bridge. Sunday 18. Little Lever v Salesbury; Championship - Baxenden v Whalley, Brinscall v Earby, Cherry Tree v Feniscowles, Oswaldtwistle Immanuel v Barnoldswick, Walkden v Read.