Baxenden’s Austin still has winning mentality

12:10pm Wednesday 20th August 2008

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FORMER England and Lancashire all-rounder Ian Austin has played at the very top of the game, but admits that helping Baxenden win the Ribbesdale League would still give him a kick.

Austin has played a key role in Baxenden’s title challenge with his 700 league runs helping Mark Rishton’s men keep the pressure on leaders Great Harwood.

And with six games to go, the 42-year-old is eyeing the chance of adding another piece of silverware to his collection, which includes NatWest Trophy and Sunday League winners’ medals from his lengthy Old Trafford career.

“I still feel very competitive and I have a massive desire to win every game,” said Austin.

“I get upset, annoyed, frustrated when we don’t win if we have not played very well.

“I have always played to win whatever game I have played in and I have been very fortunate that most places I have been I have been involved with successful sides.

“I would like that to continue until I finish and we are still very much involved in the league, which, to some extent is in our own hands.”

Baxenden trail Harwood by 11 points but still have to play both the leaders and third-placed Padiham, who are also still to meet.

And Austin believes the title race could go to the last game after a comfortable eight-wicket success against fellow challengers Edenfield last weekend kept Baxenden in the hunt.

“That was a massive game,” added Austin, whose enduring enjoyment of the sport is dampened only by the effort needed to get out of bed the morning after.

“If we had lost last weekend we would have been 20 points behind the top of the league which at this stage of the season would be a hell of a lot.”

Austin’s promotion to open the batting alongside David Parkinson and inject some impetus into Baxenden’s top order has paid off handsomely as the Back Lane club - especially with the form of professional Will Purser, who has been outstanding.

“The skipper asked me if I would a do and I said ‘no problem’. It’s worked all right. I’ve got a few but the more important thing is that we’ve been winning games and that’s the main job,” Austin said.

Settle and Whalley provide Baxenden’s opposition this weekend with Austin focussed on getting what they can from the first of two remaining potentially vital double-headers. “Whoever gets two wins would get a massive push,” he said.