Rochdale Cricket Club

Rochdale Cricket Club are an English cricket team from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, currently playing in the Central Lancashire League. Ryan Hinds had been due to return as professional for the 2008 season after a successful campaign last summer when he scored 878 runs for an average of 67.54 and topped the professionals' bowling list with 59 wickets at an average of 13.93. However because he has been promoted to the West Indian Test squad for upcoming matches against Sri Lanka and Australia, Rochdale have signed Alcindo Holder to replace him as the paid man at Redbrook this summer. Holder, a punishing batsman who plays for Barbados, is no stranger to Rochdale as he was their professional in the 2006 season when he scored 1455 runs at an average of 55.96 with a top score of 170 against Oldham. Rochdale are one of the oldest - and most successful - of all the CLL teams. They joined the league in 1893, which was founded a year earlier under the title of the South East Lancashire league. It became the Central Lancashire League a year later. Rochdale have won the league title a record 28 times, the last occasion being in 2007. They have also won the Wood Cup - a knockout competition - 12 times, second only to Littleborough Cricket Club who have 13 successes to their name. The first team skipper for the 2008 season is opening batsman Simon Brierley, who captained the side to the CLL title in 2007.