Thereafter, Martindale's main cricket was played in England as he followed Constantine's example by signing as a professional in the Lancashire League, playing for three seasons from 1936 with Burnley Cricket Club. Although primarily recruited for his bowling, he also batted high in the batting order, sometimes opening the innings. In an early match for Burnley, against Church, he took nine wickets in an innings and spoiled his own record by catching the tenth batsman off a different bowler. In 1938 the English fast bowler Ken Farnes regarded Martindale as the world's fastest bowler.