Cricket: Postie recovers from horror smash to deliver maiden

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Cricket: Postie recovers from horror smash to deliver maiden century

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POSTMAN Phillip Barratt delivered his maiden century for Stone & District League side Staffordshire Moorlands ... five months after a car crash almost ended his time at the crease.

The 45-year-old postal collections operator from Leek was left with nasty facial injuries after his Royal Mail van collided with a lorry on the A500 in January.

Barratt, below, was left needing more than 100 internal facial stitches after being cut from his wrecked van, while he also required physiotherapy to ease leg and shoulder injuries down his right side.

Despite returning to work at the end of May, Barratt's 25-year stint playing for Moorlands appeared to be over.

However, he says love for the game drove him to return this season, and on Saturday the batsman's tenacity was rewarded when his unbeaten 103 helped Moorlands second XI sweep aside league rivals Oakamoor.

A jubilant Barratt, who is also the club's treasurer, said: "I never thought I would play the game again. I thought I'd have to retire.

"But I kept on playing because of my love for the game and my love of the club.

"It was an unbelievable feeling to score a century because I thought I'd never get one, but you keep going in the hope you can achieve it.

"After having the crash it was more satisfying, but just being able to get onto the cricket pitch is more important."

Batting at number three, Barratt carried his bat in hitting his maiden ton off 115 balls. It featured 17 fours.

His score, and a fine 72 from opener Nick Grubb, helped Staffs Moorlands declare on 234-2 off 34 overs.

They went on to record a commanding 139-run victory after Dave Alcock (4-14) helped dismiss Oakamoor for just 95.

Rather than dwelling on his own problems, Barratt dedicated his century to 17-year-old Ben Chadwick, a rising star of the club who was killed in a car crash last December was unwilling to dwell on any physical pain he still suffers as a result of the crash, but admits a reduction in mobility means he is no longer able to perform for the club's first string.

Moorlands were in mourning late last year when one of their rising stars, 17-year-old Ben Chadwick, also from Leek, was killed in a car crash on December 28.

He explained: "When I completed my century I raised my bat to the sky to Ben. He was such a popular figure at the club."