Ingram targets record

Ingram, 22, is also dreaming of matching his Caribbean compatriot on the international stage by playing for his country in the 2007 World Cup.

Dunnington destroyer King, who has thrilled York crowds for the last 12 years with his batting feats, still holds the record for most runs in a year.

Nobody has come within 300 runs of the former test star's colossal 1,668 tally, rattled up for Stillington during the 1996 division four season.

But new kid on the block Ingram, playing in the first division this year after switching from top-flight Clifton Alliance, has that target in his sights.

The former West Indies under-19 international, who plays first-class cricket for Jamaica in the winter, has already rattled up the quickest 1,000 runs in York League history, having first burst on to the scene last year with the premier division's third-best batting average of 61.33, placing him behind Woodhouse Grange's Kamran Sajid (101.88) and King (73.5).

Included in Ingram's 2004 season statistics was also a top-flight record innings of 179 not out for Clifton Alliance.

That performance has since been eclipsed by King's majestic, unbeaten 212 this summer, providing a real sorcerer and his apprentice feel to the battle to be considered the league's current top man at the crease.

Going into Saturday's home clash with Hull Zingari, Ingram stood on 1,099 runs for the campaign and, having rattled five centuries in 2005, he also has former Hemingbrough ace Masood Akbar's seven hundreds in a season record, set two years ago, within touching distance.

But to displace Barbados-born King in the record books would clearly be regarded as a special achievement for Ingram, who combines playing with working part-time at Oak Tree Nurseries in Poppleton.

He said: "To get 1,000 runs in just 12 matches is just amazing and I think Collis King's record is a realistic target but there are a lot of factors. You have to consider the weather and, if you are batting last, teams might only set us targets of 150.

"I think Collis is an amazing player who has done well at the highest level. I don't know him very well but we do talk whenever we meet at games and, hopefully, I can go on to play as long as he has done."

King made his name on the international stage with a memorable, match-winning innings against England that won the World Cup for the West Indies in 1979.

Ingram, who also bowls left-arm spin, played in the 2002 under-19 version but is dreaming that he will figure in the senior one-day cricket spectacular when it is staged by his country in two years' time.

He said: "The season back home starts again in January and I will be hoping to be in the Jamaica squad again. I want to make a big impression because playing in the next World Cup for my country is my main target."

Ingram, who would also like to play first-class cricket in England, believes playing for Clifton and Stamford Bridge for the last two summers has aided his cricketing development.

He said: "It's good to be given an opportunity to play in different conditions. The ball swings a bit more here and the wickets are a bit slower. As a player, I have really changed a lot. I have to assess the wicket more and take greater responsibility when I am batting.

"I think, as a country, West Indians like to play very freely whereas, in England, players work the ball into the gaps more. We could both learn from each other. I think we might need a bit more discipline while England could express themselves a bit more."

Ingram switched to Stamford Bridge this year when current premier division leaders Clifton brought in Australian Danny Harris as their overseas player.

But Bridge are also topping the first division table and Ingram believes the club would be well-equipped for promotion, saying: "They have a really good set-up and I think the club would do well in the premier division. We have a few youngsters coming through who hopefully want to keep improving and our batting line-up is strong."

Updated: 10:50 Friday, July 22, 2005