Runs ace Connor eyes senior county spot

The Chelmarsh skipper enjoyed a record-breaking season in the Henshall's Shropshire County League as he set a new high for runs scored.

The 23-year-old plundered 1,400 runs to better the previous mark of 1,383 set by David Nock – the second year running his has reached the four-figure mark.

And after figuring for Shropshire's Development XI he has now earned a call to train with the senior county squad through the winter.

As well as his exploits with the bat, Glendinning also topped the Division Three wicket-taking charts with his left-arm spin claiming 48 victims – the second highest in the entire league.

He led skipper to a third-placed finish during a summer than saw him reel off seven centuries and six-half centuries with a highest score of 158 not out – ending the season with an average of exactly 100.

He needed 63 in the final game of the season against Harpers CC to set a new record and, having taken five wickets earlier, he completed another superb all-round individual display by making 79 with the bat.

He impressed for Shropshire's Development squad during the summer taking 3-35 from 10 overs against Northamptonshire and claiming 4-20 and scoring 44 in T20 clashes with Lancashire Academy.

Glendinning has his sights set on playing for Shropshire's senior side but admits he may need to be playing a higher level of club cricket in order to fulfil his ambitions.

"I have been invited to train with Shropshire's first team this winter and that should be cool," said Glendinning, who has already been subject of interest from clubs higher in the cricketing pyramid.

"That would be excellent if I could get into that set up. If I do play club cricket at a higher level, then hopefully it would mean more exposure to that kind of cricket rather than the five or six games I have had with development squad.

"I don't know about next season, to be honest. I'm undecided at the moment as to where I will be playing.

"I had a few offers last year, but Chelmarsh's captain resigned so I thought I would give that a go.

"We have our AGM in December so I need to decide on the captaincy by then. And that's probably the sort of time frame for a decision on where I will play."

Glenndinning's formative years on a cricket pitch were spent Down Under, after his family emigrated to Australia.

"I played county age group for Shropshire from under-10s and I played at Bridgnorth until I was 11 and then my family emigrated to Melbourne," said the former St Leonards Primary School and Bridgnorth Endowed pupil.

"I played out there for six or seven years until moved back in 2014. The pitches out there are a lot different and there are more opportunities for batters. It probably helped me develop.

"I did really well over there and started playing first team cricket for Delacombe Park when I was 16. It was a good standard and a good challenge at that age."

The return to Shropshire saw Glendinning, who also plays hockey for Bridgnorth, wind up at Chlemarsh, where he puts his success down to keep things simple, enjoying his cricket and an impressive fitness regime.

"I hadn't played for a year or so and one of my friends got me to go to Chelmarsh and I have been there ever since," he added.

"I have lost quite a lot of weight in the last few years, fitness has been a big focus for me.

"But I think a lot of my success has been down to not over complicating things, really.

"If I am enjoying my cricket, then I always perform better. I think that is the key, just playing for enjoyment and the scores and the runs have come from that.

We have a tight-knit group, we are mates off the pitch and it helps being in that sort of environment."

Not surprisingly, Glendinning's on-field exploits saw him lift the player of the season award for Division Three as well as being named skipper in the divisional team of the season.

And out of his seven centuries, the 103 against Calverhall gave him most satisfaction.

"The knock that probably stood out was one against Calverhall," he said. "It was at home and it was a tough day to bat. They were top or second and it was a tough innings, there weren't many big shots and I had to fight for it. That probably meant the most."

SCCL Dream Teams 2018

Premier Division

1.Rishav Das (Wem) overseas

2 Steve Pugh (Madeley)

3. Ryan Wheldon (Quatt)

4. Andrew Lloyd (Madeley)

5. Harry Chandler (Wem)

6. Bryn Simmons (wk) (Worfield) CAPTAIN

7. Tom Astley (Wem)

8. Ryan Quiney (Worfield)

9.Dominic Bradburne (Sentinel)

10. Joe Williams (Ludlow)

11. Gareth Jones (Quatt)

Division One

1. Carl Starling (Allscott)

2. Josh Keys (Knockin) overseas

3. Mark Jones (Alberbury)

4. Ross Barton (Forton)

5. Adam Shimmons (Albrighton)

6. Owen Morris (Pontesbury)

7. Jason Summers (Allscott) CAPTAIN

8. Sam Griffiths (Shelton)

9. Simon Jones (Wroxeter)

10. Mark Lewis (Pontesbury) WK

11. Steve Wilson (Pontesbury)

Division Two

1. Avi Mathur (Church Aston)

2. Dominic Ashley (Shifnal 3rds) overseas

3. Jonathan Mitchell (Ellesmere)

4. Glenn Edwards (Willey)

5. Richard Barge (HPT)

6. Nathan Whittingham (Wheaton Aston)

7. George Duncan (Ellesmere)

8. Sam Williams (Montgomery) CAPTAIN

9. David Ross (Wellington3rds)

10. Rob Bennett (Montgomery) WK

11. Ashley Thomas (Ellesmere)

Division Three

1. Connor Glendinning (Chelmarsh) CAPTAIN

2. Shantanu Golar (Harpers)

3. Harvey Wakefield (Hinstock)

4. Andy Unitt (Chelmarsh)

5. Susrikant Sahoo (Harpers)

6. Andy Green (Calverhall)]

7. Andy Darlington (Prees)

8. Duncan Chaplin (Iscoyd)

9. Dave Langton (Acton Reynald)

10. Charlie Fensome (Chelmarsh) WK

11. Alex Parker (Calverhall)

Division Four

1. Rick Jarrett (Harcourt)

2. Guy Black (Bridgnorth 3rds) CAPTAIN

3. Adam Harris (Column)

4. Sam Sneyd (Column)

5. Simon Cross (Trysull)

6. Niall Mcadam (Bridgnorth 3rds)

7. Matthew Bowler Jones (Bridgnorth 3rds)

8. Alex Thomas (Bridgnorth 3rds)

9. Matthew Harris (Quayside)

10. Junaid Shaheen (Trysull)

11. Paul Mantle (Corvedale WK

Division One 2nd xi

1. Mike Griffiths (Sentinel 2nds)

2. Lewis Rollason (Worfield 2nds0

3. Adrian Evans (Quatt 2nds)

4. Matthew Jones (Montgomery 2nds)

5. Ralph Bishop (sentinel 2nds)

6. Piers Rowenhurst (Worfield 2nds)

7. Rob Yewdall (Montgomery 2nds)

8. Simon Topper (Wellington 4ths) WK

9. Naz Akhtar (St Georges 2nds)

10. Matthew Rees (Worfield 2nds)

11. Pete Ezard (Sentinel 2nds) CAPTAIN

Division two 2nd xi

1. Richard Smout (Newtown 2nds)

2. Kelvin Rogerson (Broseley)

3. Chris Hodson (Madeley 2nds)

4. Jack Home (Shifnal 4ths)

5. Greg Lawrence (Cound 2nds)

6. Tony Rowlands (Broseley)

7. Richard Addison (Allscott 2nds)

8. Steve Maiden (Madeley 2nds) CAPT/WK

9. John Watson (Broseley)

10. Paul Aston (Beacon 2nds)

11. Lol Woodhall (Madeley)

Division Three (2nd xi)

1.Steve Cowie (Albrighton 2nds )

2. David Morris (Pontesbury 2nds) CAPTAIN

3. Lee Davis (Ellesmere 2nds)

4. Mat Sherwood (Welshpool 2nds

5. Supul Fernando (Lilleshall 4ths)

6. Andrew Brooks (Condover 2nds)

7. Mike Ross (St Georges 4ths)

8. Tom Vickers (Forton 2nds)

9. Richard Dyer (Much Wenlock 2nds)

10. Daniel Lewis-Lakelin (Pontesbury 2nds)

11. Rupert Redway (Welshpool 2nds)

Sunday Division one

1. Dan Parry (Cound 3rds)

2. Gareth Masters (Newport 3rds)

3. Rob Matreavers (Cound 3rds)

4. Mel Parry (Cound 3rds)

5. Rhys Williams (Knockin 3rds)

6. Russell Morris (Sentinel 3rds)

7. Abdul Khan (Newport 3rds)

8. Shaun Mostert (Wem 3rds)

9. Peter Lewis Bullock (Sentinel 3rds) WK

10. Greg Stokes (Knockin 3rds)

11. James Parker (Worfield 3rds) CAPT

Sunday Division two

1. Alex Starr (Bridgnorth 4ths) CAPT

2. Tom Griffin (Whitchurch 3rds)

3. Dominic Simms (Madeley 3rds)

4. Henry Roberts (Bridgnorth 4ths )

5. George Lawrence (Knockin 4ths)

6. Jack Walmsley (Madeley 3rds)

7. Nathan Simms (Madeley 4ths)

8. Darren Nudds (Bomere Heath 3rds) WK

9. James Marvell (Whitchurch 3rds)

10. Ian Hartley (Madeley 4ths)

11. Matthew Ross (Madeley 3rds)