With thanks to Tom Evans @ Merseyside Cricket Online (merseysidecricket.com can be supported @ https://buymeacoffee.com/tomevanscricket).
How two star wicketkeeper-batters are fighting for a shot at the big time… and how the Comp is helping their chances
When the sun’s out, and you’re going well, you could just about kid yourself it sounds like fun.
But life on the trial circuit can be a tough one for players on the fringes of the professional game.
Take the case of two of the Love Lane Liverpool Competition’s star players – George Lavelle and Jack Carney.
Both are top-order strokemakers and talented wicketkeepers. Both have had strong starts to their 2025 seasons.
Both have had one bite at the top level – Lavelle with Lancashire, in particular on the run to the 2022 One Day Cup final, Carney with England U19s, for whom he played four Tests and 13 ODIs – and both are hungry for more.
Both are still young. Lavelle is 24, still a nipper in cricket terms, while Carney is four years younger.
But both are slightly in limbo, without a county contract. Lavelle was released by Lancashire at the end of last season after the rise of Leigh’s Matty Hurst; Carney has not yet made it past 2nd XI level, despite his successful progress through the age groups.
So all they can do is wait for the phone to ring – and score as many runs as they can in the Comp.
Jack Carney on his way to a century for Southport & Birkdale against Leigh last season Picture by Angus Matheson
“It’s a super competitive environment,” says Lavelle.
“There’s loads of us, all vying for a couple of contracts.”
Carney adds: “It’s such a specialised position, and everyone’s come back from pre-season fit – there are only a few spaces for triallists.
“It’s really competitive at the minute, which is difficult but you’ve just got to keep on going and doing what you can.”
Lavelle began his league season with an unbeaten 103, just pipping skipper Gary Knight to his century in a stand of 190 as Ormskirk began their title defence by thrashing Rainford.
George Lavelle bats for Lancashire in 2023 Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images
He says: “You try to lay a marker down to the other teams.
“All the coaches are looking at club cricket and it does make a big difference. If you’re scoring runs, it’s going to get noticed.
“I’m just trying to keep reminding everyone I’m still here, still trying to make my way back into the professional game – Saturday was a great start for it.
“I always want to do well for Ormskirk but there’s maybe a little bit more incentive to put yourself in the shop window.”
Carney made the difficult decision to leave his boyhood club, Southport & Birkdale, after their relegation from the Premier Division last season.
At Formby, he has the opportunity to play on the league’s best batting track, under the captaincy of a former county pro in Ian Cockbain – and, crucially, in the top flight.
His first league outing was a knock of 79 in a thrilling one-wicket defeat to Colwyn Bay.
He says: “I’d been at Southport since I was five or six, played all my junior cricket there and played my first senior game when I was 14, under Chris Firth, so I’ve been with them right through.
“It was a really difficult decision to leave, but to make sure my cricket is heading in the right direction I have to make sure I’m playing at the highest level possible.
“Counties look for Premier League cricket and to be playing the highest standard really helps, whereas if I was playing in Division One, people might be questioning it.
“It was a tough decision but I needed to play in the Prem.”
Check out all the comings & goings around the Premier Leagues HERE
Carney, who spent the winter playing in Sydney, has signed up for the MCC Young Cricketers in the hope of getting more opportunities to catch the eye.
He also had a game with Nottinghamshire’s 2nd XI before the start of the season, and pays regular visits to Yorkshire to work with his coach from Scarborough College, Stuart Guy.
“The tough part is the unpredictability,” Carney says.
“I don’t know what cricket I could be playing next week, and that’s probably the hardest bit.
“The past couple of weeks at Formby and Notts have been really enjoyable, but you don’t know where you stand or what the future could hold.
“You’ve got to be prepared for someone to call you tomorrow to play a game, and you’ve got to be ready in any situation.
“Once you’ve prepared, you have to trust your ability and play with freedom – when you’re in a new environment you might go into your shell a bit, but you’ve got to back yourself, play with freedom and enjoy it.”
Being able to take the opportunities when they come is easier said than done, particularly for a batter, who might not get a chance to make a second mistake.
Lavelle played 27 List A 50-over games for Lancashire – helped by the domestic cup clashing with the Hundred – but feels his chances in the other formats were limited.
He says: “I didn’t quite take my chances when they came, but I would have liked more opportunities.
“I think I did well in the One Day Cup when I had my chances but in the County Championship and the T20s I never quite had a run in the side.
“But in the games I did get, I never really took the opportunities.
“I thought it was time to move on from Lancs either way, there were one too many keepers there and one of us had to leave and further our careers.
“Every game, you think ‘I have to perform or I’ll be back in the 2nd XI or back running drinks’.
“When you’re at a county as big as Lancashire, it’s a privilege to play for them but there’s expectations that you’re going to do well for them.
“You get one or two games to make your case, there is going to be pressure on that.”
At least both know they can fall back on the Comp, a league which is certainly getting plenty of attention.
Carney’s teammate, spinner Archie Davies, played his second game for Lancashire’s 2nd XI this week against Yorkshire at Northern.
Newton-le-Willows all-rounder Adnan Miakhel made his debut – led by new clubmate George Bell, who was a regular for the senior Lancashire side last year.
Another Formby man, Ollie Sutton, made his first-class debut at Lord’s in Lancs’ first game of the season – confusingly, for an all-rounder whose batting is at least as strong as his left-arm seam, he was carded at 11. The selectors are clearly watching; maybe they could do with watching even more.
And Ormskirk of course have Tom Hartley, a Lancs regular and England Test player, who helped wrap up Saturday’s win with four wickets.
Lavelle, who has had games for Derbyshire and Gloucestershire’s 2nd XIs, added: “Ormskirk have always looked after myself and Tom whenever we’ve been available.
“I hope I can repay them with some more consistent availability and hopefully go and get the weight of runs that will help us.”
You can follow all the fixtures & results HERE (ECB National Club Championship)
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With thanks to Tom Evans @ Merseyside Cricket Online (merseysidecricket.com can be supported @ https://buymeacoffee.com/tomevanscricket)
