Cole hails Wilson’s wickets as Northern spin twins hit new heights

Dan Wilson (left) and Tom Sephton
Pictures by RAY HIBBS

Northern captain James Cole hailed matchwinner Dan Wilson after the left-arm spinner claimed 15 wickets in just two league games.

Wilson’s 7/59 at Moor Park against Newton-le-Willows was his best-ever return, but only for a week – he topped it on Saturday with 8/74 at Leigh.

Cole believes his figures are an accurate reflection of the progress he has made since joining the club in 2022.

And he says Wilson is benefiting greatly from working alongside another slow left-armer and a true Comp great in Tom Sephton.

Cole said: “They’re quite different bowlers. Tom bowls a little bit slower and probably gives it a bit more flight, whereas Dan changes his pace a little bit more.

“Dan’s always wanting to learn, so he’s always working with Tom, and they’re always communicating quite well and talking to each other over fields and how to get batters out.

“One of the reasons why Dan wanted to come and play at Northern was to learn how to get wickets on flat pitches, and to bowl in tandem with Tom and pick his brains as well.”

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Sephton is closing in on 1,000 league wickets over his 18-year 1st XI career, so it’s not surprising that Wilson’s role has been second spinner when both are available.

The former Longridge man’s most productive season at Northern was his first, the hot, dry summer of 2022, when he took 54 scalps to Sephton’s 57 – having bowled 52.3 fewer overs.

This year, the apprentice has five more wickets than the master, and has been trusted with just seven fewer overs.

There is no hint of a changing of the guard, and Cole insists Sephton bowled just as well for his two wickets at Leigh as Wilson did for his eight.

Rather, it’s a sign of Northern having two top-class spinners, which will always be better than one. 

Since Wilson arrived, he and Sephton have taken an average of 4.77 wickets per league match between them; this year, that figure is up to 5.19. They’re doing more than half the job for the rest of the attack.

Wilson has played four National Counties matches for Cheshire over the past two summers, but higher honours have so far eluded him.

Still, at 22, there is plenty of time yet.

“He’s trying to push on to the next level if he can, so hopefully someone will give him that opportunity,” said Cole.

“Spinners tend to get better with age, but Lancashire have not really had a prolonged look at him at any point.

“Unfortunately, they do seem to just overlook certain lads.

“I’m surprised that a county has not had a proper look at him yet to be honest, because he’s obviously a very, very good bowler, he’s a handy batter, he’s a decent fielder, so he ticks a lot of boxes.”

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Northern have two cup finals to look forward to – in the Ray Digman Trophy and the Lancashire Knockout – and sit second in the table, having closed the gap on Ormskirk to 34 points with Saturday’s win.

Cole admits the league is a “long shot”, even with a possible 150 points up for grabs in the last six games.

“I think even if we get 150 points, they only have to win four games of cricket,” he said.

“They’re one of the best sides around at the moment.

“We’ve struggled a lot with injuries and unavailability this year, so we are quite surprised we’ve hung in there this long. 

“But you never know.”

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