999 is no emergency for run machine Coey

SOME top-class batters are motivated by personal milestones, using them as an objective measure of their contribution and a reminder to keep up their standards.

- By TOM EVANS Cricket Writer [e-mail] @TomEvansCricket

Formby captain Ian Cockbain is not one of those.

"Absolutely not, not in the slightest," he laughs when asked if he sees any significance in the fact his first run against Newton-le-Willows on Saturday will be his 1,000th in all competitions this season.

"I'll probably get a duck now... I'll try to scramble a single early on.

"But no, it doesn’t occur to me how many runs I’ve got. I judge my season and other people's seasons on how many times we contribute to winning a game, or win one off our own back.

"If during a season I can help us win half a dozen games or so, I feel like I’ve done my job.

"And if I've got other people chipping in around me, it all adds up and it'll put us there or thereabouts.”

Formby’s players are certainly answering the captain’s call.