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After a few years of struggle, things are looking up at Accrington thanks to a lot of hard work in the nets from coach Graeme Beech.

With half the present first team squad 20 or under the future of the club looks in safe hands.

Mohsin Ahmed (15), Adam Greenwood (17), Taz Hussain (20), Danny Greenwood (20) and Zaheer Afzal are all exciting talents and Zaheer's 5-19 against Church was the best amateur bowling performance I've seen all season.

The arrival of wicketkeeper Mark Burns from Edenfield and hard-hitting middle order batsman Matt Wilson from Rawtenstall has also made a big difference this summer.

But our change in fortune has a lot to do with professional Mark Bailey.

He may be a quiet lad but he lets his bat do the talking and he's already got over 1,000 runs for us in all competitions this season.

We'd love him to return next year because he's instilled a new confidence in the team. But due to a heavy fixture list over the winter, he's not sure whether he'll be available to come back.

And it's not just the first team that's looking up. The second XI are in the top half of their league and with players like Stephen Birtwistle, who's scored 119, 104 and 72 in his last three knocks, Stefan Heins, who's made 80 and 62 recently, and Mus Ahmed who hit 108 last week, there's now competition for places.

That's something we haven't had for the last couple of years.

The Third XI have been the most pleasing, though.

Led by Dave Kennedy, they are currently top of their league and his side mainly consists of 14, 15 and 16-year-olds.

As for the points system in the Lancashire League this season, it's possible to pick up seven points for losing and 10 points for winning and there isn't a big enough gap between the two.

I think one bonus point should be awarded for six wickets, two for eight, and three for all 10.

It should be seven points for a win and 10 if you bowl the other side out.