Opener Brook missing as East Bierley bid for hat-trick

East Bierley will be bidding to become only the second team to pull off a hat-trick of Sovereign Health Care Priestley Shield final wins when they take on Cleckheaton at Moorend tomorrow.

If they are successful they will match the achievement of Undercliffe who achieved the feat between 1984 and 1986.

And it would also complete a fantastic double for the East Bierley club because their first team completed the only hat-trick of Sovereign Health Care Priestley Cup wins between 1998 and 2000.

East Bierley, who are playing in their fifth successive final, will be without one of their key batsmen. Left-handed opener Arron Brook, who scored an unbeaten 144 when his side beat Bowling Old Lane in the 2006 final, is on a stag weekend in Prague.

It means that East Bierley have re-shuffled their batting with wicketkeeper Liam Walsh moving up from number ten to open with the prolific Steve Simpson. Brook's absence means that East Bierley stalwart John Glover is drafted into the side - giving them an additional bowling option.

East Bierley, who recently won the Second Teams Division One championship for the second successive year, start favourites against a Cleckheaton side playing in their first final. But Cleckheaton do have the advantage of playing at home.

Cleckheaton have finished fifth in Division One after winning the Division Two championship last season and they will be hoping that their young guns will come good.

The Walmsley twins Marcus and Edward have been in outstanding form. Marcus is the team's talisman opening the batting and the bowling. He has scored 802 runs in the league and taken over 52 wickets while Edward has made 428 runs and captured 46 wickets with his off spin.

How skipper Neil Shackleton handles his young new-ball attack of Marcus Walmsley and Fraser Green could go a long way to deciding the outcome of the game.

East Bierley have the most powerful batting line up in second team cricket and Cleckheaton will need their young bowlers to settle quickly.It promises to be a big test for them in a match which will belatedly bring the curtain down on the JCT 600 Bradford League season.

East Bierley: Steven Simpson, Liam Walsh (wkt), Tom Owens, John Davis, James Petty, Leigh Abbott, Paul Ellis, Matthew Anderson (Capt), Chris Brook, Dan Abbott, John Glover. 12th Man: Craig Bell

Cleckheaton: Marcus Walmsley, Chris Dobson, Rhys Jowett, Dean Worrall, Edward Walmsley, Russell Noble, Craig Blackburn, Neil Shackleton (Capt), Andy Porritt, Chris Dyer (wkt), Fraser Green. 12th man: Matthew West