Collingham CC skipper Burhan Alam won’t look at ‘anything less than promotion’ to the Notts Premier League top flight after overseeing the team’s perfect start to the season.
Alam took over the First XI captaincy last winter, after Ollie Dyson stepped down, and couldn’t have hoped for a better start.
Saturday’s win over Clipstone was their third in as many starts and moved them to the top of Division Two.
“We’ve won our first three games and we’re currently top of the division so I couldn’t really have asked for any better,” he said.
“Everyone is really gelling together and enjoying their cricket. The team spirit is incredible which makes life ten times easier.”
Alam is in just his third season with the club, but is quite clear at what level he feels Collingham should be playing their cricket.
“The club that Collingham is should always be looking to play in the top division,” he added.
“We set our stall out to get promotion because that’s where we belong - in Premier League One.
“I would only look at promotion, I wouldn’t look at anything less.”
Yet despite the clear goals, the new skipper is refusing to get carried away and has put the main ethos on playing with a smile.
“We’re not looking too far ahead, we’re just taking it game by game,” he said.
“I also really want the players to enjoy their cricket - that’s important.
“If you enjoy your cricket, that’s when you play your best cricket.”
Alam led from the front in a low-scoring win on Saturday, top-scoring and taking three wickets.
But perhaps most encouraging for Collingham’s long-term prospects is that the runs and wickets this season have been shared around the team.
“Everyone is working together,” Alam added.
“There hasn’t been an outstanding performer in any of the games - everyone has chipped in, everyone has played their part with bat and ball, and in the field as well.”
As an all-rounder, Alam now has the added weight of leadership, but is, so far at least, relishing the challenge.
“Last year I had a decent year with bat and ball but as captain I’ve got a lot more responsibility in the games,” he said.
“I’ve dropped down the batting order to four so I can have more responsibility in the middle order.
“I’m the sort of cricketer who is always involved in the game, so hopefully I can continue performing.”
It’s been tough going for the batters on damp early-season pitches, but the Collingham attack has cashed in, bowling their opponents out in all three games.
Alam’s move to promote leg-spinner John Miller to open the bowling is also reaping rewards, with a match-winning 6-17 against Gedling Colliery in round two.
“Our bowlers have been outstanding,” Alam said.
“In our first game we played Notts Unity and bowled them out for 130.
“They are a strong team and finished third last season so to beat them away early in the season really put a marker down.”
