Time for a Sun dance! - Tibbsy's Weekend Preview! 22/05 - 23/05

There is a reduced program this week, God and the weather willing, as only the first and second team are in action this week.

The first team have put away their pyjamas and return to wearing whites for the first time in a very long time. They will also be using a red ball as well, how very 1980’s! They will also be creating a number of ‘firsts’ as this will be the team’s debut in the longer format EAPL games. These games are contested over a maximum of 120 overs.

The side batting first can utilise a maximum of 64 overs, but they can declare earlier if they like. This ability to declare is quite significant as under this format you can have a win, draw or loss, unlike the 50 over competition which is straight win or lose. The bowlers are allowed to bowl a maximum of 18 overs each, and this is why a lot of sides in the past have engaged a spinner as their pro / overseas.

Pre-covid, two formal breaks of play, lunch and tea, were taken. the breaks will still be in place although the refreshments is still BYO. The points are as you would expect complicated but you still get a minimum of 25 points for a win (+ batting bonus points if you bat first), in the event of a draw you get a handful of points plus any batting and bowling points. For those anoraks amongst us the full regulations can be found on the EAPL website (www.eaplcricket.com), guaranteed to work for any casual insomniac!

If all this wasn’t difficult enough our first experience in this format pits us against Swardeston, who are seven times EAPL winners, the reigning English Club T20 and 50 over champions and the side that beat us in the 2020 play-off final. A walk in the park then! Skipper Dan Heath despite still missing a few key players through injury, work and other absences is still able to name a strong side. Sadly, Michael Cafferkey has given up that unequal struggle between work, life and raising a young family, and so he has now left the club. After being named in our squad last week Rishi Patel received a call up to the Leicestershire County Championship side against Hampshire. I’m sure Dan cannot take all the credit for that one!

Dan gives a full debut to paceman Matt Lee, a home debut to Ethan Guest and a seasonal debut to Charlie Lewis. He will be hoping that the batting unit can keep up the excellent early season form. Both Matthew Hague and Callum Guest appear in the leagues top five batters, and youngster Noah Thain makes it into the top fifteen. Heath will perhaps be disappointed not to have the left arm spin option that George Darlow and Alex Stafford offer, but given the recent weather and a strip that has been under cover for most of the week he may not need them? He will also be buoyed by the fact that a number of the squad have played this extended type of format either here, or in Australia or having represented Cambridgeshire in the three-day format.

Swardeston, who sit a menacing fourth in the table, just behind us. Mildenhall and the other 100% side Gt. Witchingham boast a side with lots of options. They are skippered by Joe Gatting, nephew of ex-England captain Mike. I bet he wishes for a quid every time that nugget is mentioned. Gatting will be supported by a strong batting line up with Stephen Gray and Callum Taylor in good early season form. Adam Todd is their leading wicket-taker so far this term but like us they have a multitude of options.

The second team also have a home game, hopefully to be played at Babraham if it ever stops raining!, when they entertain AK XI. AK are based at the Alconbury Sports Centre, this was supposed to be their home game and so we will be playing away at Babraham. Skipper Nick Griggs was quick to act to replace opening bowler Sean Ward who now has work commitments that make it impossible to play for the 2nds. Third team skipper Jake Ellis is looking forward to bolstering his already impressive squad. Griggs who will again be without James Drummond, signed Will Bailey from Haverhill whilst Bailey’s ex-teammate Olly North also returns. Sean Jenkins is promoted from the third team joining Ollie Borley who earned a promotion the week before.

Once again it’s a journey into the unknown as we have never played AK before, early season form for both sides is pretty non-existent as both were rained off last week. AK lost to Orton Park quite heavily on the opening day, so will be keen to break their duck, the Rams will be keen to maintain their 100% record in league and friendlies.

On Sunday there is another Club first as the first team play in the National T20 competition. This competition, I believe, shares the same sponsor as the Vitality Blast and is effectively the FA Trophy of cricket. We travel to Saffron Walden to meet the Crocus in the first match (10.30am start) and then hopefully meet the winners of the Burwell and Exning versus Cambridge match in the day’s final. The winner then moves onto the next round against the winners from the other regions. Heath is again able to name another strong side. He gives a debut to Lee Thomason, who comes in for Noah Thain.