EXPERIENCED Adlington bowler Ben King has come up with the perfect answer to his team-mates' banter about his age – wickets.

King, aged 38, has been the subject of light-hearted jokes from younger players in the last couple of years.

And the in-form ace has proved there is plenty of life in him yet with 12 wickets in the last four games.

He believes he is bowling as well as he ever has in a team which is also looking good after a slow start.

"I've been really happy with the way it's been going personally," he said.

"I took three wickets against Blackrod last week, four against Edgworth, just the one against Swinton Moorside and four against Bury.

"I think I'm bowling as well as I ever have, which I'm pleased about, especially with the various things they say about me being the old warhorse and this and that.

"I don't mind being the butt of the jokes because we've got a good a team spirit and it all adds to it.

"And it's nice to get some wickets and be able to say back to them 'thanks very much but that shows I still have what it takes'."

Adlington are 12th going into tomorrow's home game against Atherton, surprisingly low considering they have beaten three top teams – two of them convincingly – in the last four games.

The developing side would be much higher up the table but for three or four close games they ended up losing.

"We lost narrowly to Blackrod last week but we've been going well after a slow start," said King.

"We've taken a while to settle down and get the balance of the team right.

"Our batting has let us down a bit and we've taken time to start bowling as a unit.

"Iain Critchley, who played at the club as a junior, has come back as coach and that will help.

"We've been bowling well – not bowling to take wickets but bowling to keep the score down and give us a chance to get the runs we need to win.

"Getting the right batting order will get our confidence up and get us going in the right direction.

"We've been doing much better of late and we'll be looking to continue that against Atherton on Saturday."

He says one positive has been the addition of Carl Drinkwater.

"He hasn't played for 15 years but he played in a legends game about six weeks ago and just got his appetite back," added King.

"He's a joy to play with, I've never played with someone so enthusiastic about playing cricket. He's invigorated the team and really lifted the place.

"He started at Adlington and played for the club as a senior before going to the Bolton League and then stopping playing altogether.

"He knows his cricket inside out and has been a great addition."

Fixtures

Tomorrow

Bolton Association: Adlington v Atherton, Astley and Tyldesley v Standish, Daisy Hill v Bury, Darcy Lever v Golborne, Edgworth v Lostock, Flixton v Swinton Moorside, Little Hulton v Walshaw, Westleigh v Blackrod, Worsley v Winton.

Sunday

LCB Knockout: Flixton v Vertex, Longridge v Atherton, Bury v Littleborough.