A CRICKET-mad parish councillor has praised an MP for supporting his plea for helping reverse Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s “bizarre” decision not to allow village cricket matches.
John Battye, who serves on Saddleworth Parish Council, wrote to Debbie Abrahams, MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, after village cricket was initially put on hold.
Cllr Battye is a lifelong member of the famed Delph and Dobcross cricket club which once had West India’s Test team Sonny Ramadhin was club professional.
Mrs Abraham’s husband John was former manager of the England under-19s side.
However, at the weekend, the Prime Minister agreed that village cricket matches could restart across the country from July 11.
And in a thank-you letter to the MP, Cllr Battye said: “While the U-turn is not unexpected no doubt your letter to the government has helped to bring about this decision forward.”
Mrs Abrahams made representations on the issue to the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
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