17 September 2025
Sangeeth Cooray will be our new professional
Darwen Cricket Club are delighted to announce the signing of Sri Lankan all-rounder Sangeeth Cooray as our new professional for the 2026 season.
​A left-handed batter and right arm off spin bowler, Sangeeth plays for Colts CC back home in Sri Lanka. In first-class matches, he averages 39.07 with 13 centuries, and he's taken 39 wickets with a best of 4/71. In one-day cricket he's made two centuries, averaging 35.84, and with the ball he has taken 23 one-day wickets with a best of 3/39.
In 2024, Sangeeth played for Woodford Wells in the Hamro Foundation Essex League. With the bat he scored 960 runs at an average of 64, with a century and nine 50s. His bowling stats were impressive too: 40 wickets at an average of 10.16 with an economy rate of 2.93 and best figures of 6/43.
We're looking forward to welcoming Sangeeth to the club, and we would like to thank Gary Hunt and Cric-Intro for making this deal possible.
16 September 2025
Darwen's new Cricket Dome opens
Darwen Cricket Club's new Cricket Dome has officially opened in grand style. ECB chair Richard Thompson and England bowler Kate Cross were amongst the special guests visiting the club, along with BBC Sport Editor, Dan Roan.
The Cricket Dome, only the second of its kind in the country, provides state of the art training facilities and will become a real asset not only for the club, but also for the whole community, including schools, community groups and charities.
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The new facilities have been developed in partnership with several different organisations, and the club are very grateful to all our funding partners who have provided considerable support to the project. These include the Aldridge Trust, Harris Trust, Lloyd Trust Charity, Brian Mercer Trust and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund through Blackburn with Darwen Council.
The club's partnership with Lancashire Cricket Foundation and 13 local schools will ensure cricket will be played and enjoyed throughout the year, whatever the weather. The dome has three full-length lanes or can be transformed into an open space for matches, coaching and community events.
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The Cricket Centre can be booked for just £35 (+VAT) , with a special rate available for schools and Registered Charities. In addition, we will shortly be offering coaching and individual lane hire through our new coaching partner, The Cricket Pad.
To book, or to find out more, please email us at darwenccoperations@gmail.com.
Picture credit: ECB
“It's a unique and exciting opportunity to make a difference to cricket and our community"
Chris Lowe, Chair, Darwen Cricket Club