Darren Cowley has left Lymington to play Devon Premier League cricket for Barton, where he was a dominant all-round force 16 years ago.
The 43-year old played in half of Lymington’s matches last summer – the first time he had turned out on a ‘fairly regular’ basis since 2014, but his return was a modest one.
In nine matches, he made 206 Southern Premier League runs – 148 of them came in fours and sixes – making only one half-century. He is pictured (by James Robinson) making 61 at Bournemouth last May.
He took 15 league wickets, but in June found himself suspended for two matches after an unsavoury Mankad run out of a Hampshire Academy batsman.
Discussing Cowley’s return, Barton skipper Adam Parker said: “Darren has had a very successful career to date and is a huge player for us to have.
“Wherever Darren has played he has scored runs and he will also be valuable with the ball in hand for us.”
gging the bowling
Cowley first played for Barton way back in 1996 after his family returned to the UK following a spell living in South Africa.
Cowley had toured India with South Africa under-19s and was being trailed by a number of First Class counties when he first joined Barton.
Smashed
Barely a month after joining Barton the then 19 year old hammered his first Devon League century, an unbeaten 102 taken off the Sandford attack.
Over the next nine seasons Cowley smashed more than 4,500 Premier and A Division runs for Barton, including tons against South Devon, Plymouth and a Devon League personal best of 123 against Sandford in 2003.
Cowley was seldom out of the Premier Division’s top-10 batters at the end of the summer. Curiously, he never bettered his first season for Barton when he made 601 league runs.
After leaving Barton at the end of the 2004 summer when he left the area, Cowley played for Bournemouth and latterly Lymington in the Southern Premier League.
Although he had a modest 2019 season, Cowley’s departure has left a gaping hole in Lymington’s middle-order and left Matt Metcalfe’s side without a proven spin bowler.
Lymington have also lost batsman/wicket-keeper Harry Fisher to Premier Division champions Bashley (Rydal), but are believed to be close to making a new signing to bolster their pace attack.
The 43-year old played in half of Lymington’s matches last summer – the first time he had turned out on a ‘fairly regular’ basis since 2014, but his return was a modest one.
In nine matches, he made 206 Southern Premier League runs – 148 of them came in fours and sixes – making only one half-century. He is pictured (by James Robinson) making 61 at Bournemouth last May.
He took 15 league wickets, but in June found himself suspended for two matches after an unsavoury Mankad run out of a Hampshire Academy batsman.
Discussing Cowley’s return, Barton skipper Adam Parker said: “Darren has had a very successful career to date and is a huge player for us to have.
“Wherever Darren has played he has scored runs and he will also be valuable with the ball in hand for us.”
gging the bowling
Cowley first played for Barton way back in 1996 after his family returned to the UK following a spell living in South Africa.
Cowley had toured India with South Africa under-19s and was being trailed by a number of First Class counties when he first joined Barton.
Smashed
Barely a month after joining Barton the then 19 year old hammered his first Devon League century, an unbeaten 102 taken off the Sandford attack.
Over the next nine seasons Cowley smashed more than 4,500 Premier and A Division runs for Barton, including tons against South Devon, Plymouth and a Devon League personal best of 123 against Sandford in 2003.
Cowley was seldom out of the Premier Division’s top-10 batters at the end of the summer. Curiously, he never bettered his first season for Barton when he made 601 league runs.
After leaving Barton at the end of the 2004 summer when he left the area, Cowley played for Bournemouth and latterly Lymington in the Southern Premier League.
Although he had a modest 2019 season, Cowley’s departure has left a gaping hole in Lymington’s middle-order and left Matt Metcalfe’s side without a proven spin bowler.
Lymington have also lost batsman/wicket-keeper Harry Fisher to Premier Division champions Bashley (Rydal), but are believed to be close to making a new signing to bolster their pace attack.
