Aberdeenshire allrounder Ian Kirk is delighted to see his team-mates taking the pressure off captain Chris Venske this season.
Shire recorded their fourth straight win with a success at Heriot’s last weekend and Kirk believes the key to his side’s strong start to the campaign has been team’s ability to lighten the load on its influential skipper.
He said: “We have a lot more guys making match winning contributions this season in comparison to last year where we relied on Chris.
“Chris has been one of the leading batsmen in Scotland in the last few years and is due a big score.
“We have also bowled very well as a group with spinners in particular restricting teams in the middle overs.”
Kirk is in his first full season at Mannofield following his move from England to Scotland a year ago and is pleased to have adapted to life in the Eastern Premier League with Shire.
He said: “I joined halfway through last season when I moved to the area. I arrived in July and played half a dozen games so it’s nice to have the benefit of starting the season this year and playing a full campaign.
“I was playing for Barkby United Cricket Club in the Leicestershire Premier League before moving here and I did have to adapt to my new surroundings.
“The games I played in Scotland last year were rain affected ones but so far this year the weather has been nicer and I’m really enjoying it.”
Shire’s win at Heriot’s was the Edinburgh side’s first defeat of the campaign last weekend and Kirk and his team-mates are eager to continue their dominant form when they travel to Forfarshire tomorrow.
Kirk said: “I missed last weekend’s game due to work but it was another excellent win for us and the reaction since losing to Grange on the opening day has been great.
“I’m available for this weekend and looking forward to it as we’re on a good run at the minute and we’re confident.
“There are a lot of new faces this year and we are inexperienced but we’ve gelled quickly and we’re enjoying the games.
“We’ve got another tough one on Saturday at Forfarshire but it’s a measure of how well we’re playing that we’re going there looking to win.
“Forfarshire would have been favourites to win this game when the fixtures were announced but we’ve beaten Heriot’s with an understrength team and we showed last season we can give Grange a run for their money in a game.”
