Because of the standards we set, we want to win the league and we want to win a big cup competition or two

Gary Knight, captain

No club in the Premier Division has a better recent pedigree than Ormskirk, or can match their historic trophy haul.

No club is held in quite such esteem, trips off the tongue so easily when asked to give an example of a top side in the Love Lane Liverpool Competition.

No other club can point to as many as nine players to have graduated to County Championship cricket. 

And yet, something isn’t quite there. The last time they finished outside the top four was 2005, an unmatched run of consistency even compared to the division’s other big hitters.

But the last time they finished top of the pile was 2017.

There have been successes since then – last year’s ECHO knockout (pictured), the Lancashire Cup in 2021, regional T20 wins in 2018 and 2019. This isn’t a drought by anyone’s standards.

But skipper Gary Knight admits the league is always the priority.

“I think it is every year,” he said.

“But it’s an unbelievably tough league to win, especially with the quality of players that we’re attracting to the league. 

“Probably 10 or 12 years ago, there were three or four teams who’d bring players over with a little bit of finance behind them, or sign up-and-coming Lancs players. 

“Whereas now it’s pretty much everyone signing really good players and outstanding young cricketers, because of the Comp’s reputation for being such a good place to play cricket.

“So it is difficult.”

Last year saw a change in policy, with Ormskirk recruiting an overseas pro for the first time in years in Zahir Shehzad. 

It can only be called a success – the Afghan slow left-armer finished with 99 scalps in all competitions, his 77 in the league second only to Wallasey’s Sumit Ruikar.

But this year, they’ve gone without and focused their attention closer to home.

Knight said: “We’re looking to reinvest in the nets – our outdoor nets have been a bit shabby for a couple of years, and past their sell-by date, to be honest. 

“So we’re looking at a big investment, and we’ll have to save a little bit of cash. So that played its part in terms of stepping away from an overseas for a year, with accommodation costs going up and up.”

But Knight has still filled some gaps which he hopes will help them bridge the gap.

Notably, Calum Turner arrives after having the season of his life at Formby, which saw him hit five league centuries and cross 1,000 runs.

Last season was a uniquely fruitful one for batters in the Comp, and the Premier Division in particular, with the previous season record obliterated by mid-season. 

But out of a total of 57 tons, Ormskirk – who finished second in the league – were the only side to contribute just one.

Knight himself earned the dressing room bragging rights with his 111 against Southport & Birkdale, and topped his side’s run charts with 671. But it’s still something the captain knows needs addressing.

He said: “Myself included, we all felt like we were 100, 200 runs short of where we wanted to be.

“The top two or three batters of each team were scoring 700, 800, 900 runs. 

“I left a few runs on the field as well as the top order, who are all capable of scoring that many runs in a season. 

“Because of how dry the summer was and the state of the Dukes balls, it did give batters a chance to go really big, so it was a bit disappointing that none of us did so.

“Calum speaks for himself with his record over the past few years. 

“He’s one of the best batters in the league. 

“We’ve been a little short of a top-order left-hander since Tyler [McGladdery] went back to Rainhill and then Taylor [Cornall] got a contract at Worcestershire.

“We were looking for that senior batsman and it just so happened that Callum ticked every single box. 

“He’s hungry to play in big games and he’s been brilliant since he’s walked through the door – I’m looking forward to watching him bat at Brook Lane.”

Rob Rankin, one of three brothers who scored 1,400 league runs between them last year, will miss much of the season overseas (making the job of pitchside cricket correspondent 33% easier); James Bone, who starred in the ECHO cup final win over Rainhill, returns to Euxton. 

But coming the other way are pacy all-rounder Sam Holden, from Prestwich, and left-arm spinner Toby Bulcock.

With 352 wickets in more than 90 minor counties matches under his belt, and two seasons at Leigh in the Comp, Bulcock brings a wealth of experience to Ormskirk. Not to mention ability.

“I’ve played a lot of cricket with Toby and I know just how good he is,” said Knight.

“He’s arguably the best spinner to not have played professional cricket.

“We’re looking forward to seeing what he can do, and I know Toby is really keen to get going. 

“I’m really excited because we’ve signed three lads in their primes.

“But we still have to do all the hard work to make that 5% difference count. 

“Coming away from last year, you don’t want to be too disappointed because we finished second and got to another Lancashire Cup final but because of the standards we set, we want to win the league and we want to win a big cup competition or two. 

“So there was a little bit of disappointment – the consistency was good but we just sort of slipped up in the big moments, and there were a couple of big league games where we could have put a little bit more pressure on Wallasey.”