Week 2 results:

Hook Norton 121-4 with Andrew Stanley 28no and Adam Webb 19 & 1-16 beat Ruscote 79-6  with Banabus 19.

Cropredy 81-0 with Tony Vickers 26no; Will French 26no and Harry Walters 3-26 beat Shipston 80-6 with Jack Murphy 43.

Sandford 125-4 with George Welch 28no; Chris Thomson 27no & Richard Murray 1-21 beat Charlbury 38-6

Banbury Vets 124 -4 with Ollie Murray 21 and James Risbridger 28no beat Banbury 109-6 with Richard Simpson 25 and Ben Cross 22.

After twelve years representing Oxfordshire and six seasons’ as captain across all three formats, Jonny Cater has confirmed that he will end his playing career within NCCA Championship Cricket and step down as captain in the red ball format. Jonny will now focus solely on T20 and 50 over cricket and remain as captain across both white ball formats from 2023. 

Jonny departs the red ball game having played 49 matches for the county since his debut in 2011, amassing 3448 runs at an average of 43.10, including six centuries and 23 half centuries. Of his six centuries, he made a hundred in each innings of the match against Cornwall in 2013 and had a highest score of 117 not out against Shropshire in 2014. Jonny completed 136 dismissals with the gloves, including 113 catches and 23 stumpings whilst also leading Oxfordshire to the NCCA Championship title as captain in 2021.

Jonny Cater said: 

“I have decided to step away from the red ball game and concentrate on our white ball campaigns from 2023. This is a decision which wasn’t taken lightly, but in order to lengthen my county career I felt this is a decision I needed to take. Playing a full season of national counties cricket certainly takes it out of you, and with a young family to support, it was becoming more and more difficult to commit to every game during the season. 

Since making my debut down at Dean Park (Dorset) in 2011, I have played every season, and I couldn’t have wished for a greater period in my career. I loved the challenge of playing the longer format of the game, and with that came some unbelievable memories. Becoming captain in 2017 was a great honour, and I feel the county has improved immensely over the last 6 seasons. The highlight was winning the championship in 2021. After the NCCA split the regions into divisions, I have seen a big step up in standard, with all 5 teams competing, making it a compelling league structure. So to win this in its first year was a great achievement. I believe there will be more success for the county in the future in this format. 

Looking ahead I am looking forward to getting out there training and getting the team prepared for the white ball competitions. After last year’s T20 success it has given everyone the appetite to strive for more silverware, and we will certainly be doing our best to bring some home in 2023.”

Head Coach, Rupert Evans said: 

“Jonny has played a major role for Oxfordshire in 3-day championship cricket over the last twelve years. He was initially selected as a middle order batter then took on the role of wicket-keeper/batter in 2013 after Ian Hawtin retired.

He has also captained the side successfully during the last six years. During this period, he has developed into one of the best batters in NCCA cricket, so he’ll leave a massive hole for us to fill now that he has decided to retire from 3-day cricket.

I have enjoyed working with Jonny during his time as player and captain, so I’m disappointed he has decided to retire from 3-day cricket but fully respect his decision.”

Dear All

Happy new year to you. I am starting to make plans for cricket competitions this summer so I attach an introductory entry form for the planned secondary competitions for 2023. I say planned because I am very happy to respond to the interests of schools in order to encourage them to participate. We are looking at increasing participation alongside the County Board and will develop events and competitions to facilitate this so please contact me if what you are looking for is not featured on the form. This includes the option of softball cricket competitions for example.

The only change from last year is that I have not included an under 15 League on the form as only a small proportion of the games in this were played last year. Instead there is a “three tier” t20 cup format. The Under 15 County Cup is for the eight strongest schools leading to a national competition later in the season (won by Abingdon School last Summer so congratulations to them as our first ever national champions) .There will also be an under 15 County Vase and a County Plate and this will guarantee all state schools that enter at least two games in one or more of these knock out competitions. If you wish to enter an under 15 league please advise me and I am still happy to set this up but I think the proposed format more accurately matches the availability of Y10 players for schools cricket.

I appreciate that it may be much too early for some schools to know what cricket they will be doing and the deadline for returns in mid February reflects that. I will be back in touch after half term with schools who have not responded to see where they are with this. Affiliation (£20) is required to enter the competitions and this should be paid by Bacs or cheque. A generic affiliation form is attached for this purpose but I can send a personalised one if required.

The viability and format of leagues will be assessed after consultation based on the number of entries. The under 12 pairs and under 13 t20 leagues still remain popular. Groups will be regionalised with semi finals and final in July. Schools who can commit to three or four games in a particular age group are welcome to enter the leagues. Schools who cannot commit to this minimum please do not enter league but enter the knock out competition instead. If there are not enough entries for the leagues I will consider the option of a vase competition in the lower age groups.

There are a number of girls only competitions for schools this summer and these are run by OCB and you will be contacted by them direct about these. Girls are very welcome to play in school matches within their own age group.

Please return the competition entry form and affiliation by February 15^th . Do please contact me if you wish to clarify or discuss any of this.

Peter Tubb

OSCA affiliation invoice 2023

cricket competition entry form 2023

The former Oxfordshire batsman Nigel Furley passed away on 5th December, aged 79. Born
in Aylesbury and attending school there, he played a few matches for Buckinghamshire in
the Minor Counties Championship before moving to Oxford to teach at Magdalen College
School. He was subsequently selected in all matches for Oxfordshire in 1969. Although he
made one fifty, 56 against Wiltshire at St Edward’s School, he had a moderate season and
was not selected for the county again. However, he was to have a successful club career at
North Oxford and later at Banbury. His former club captain Richard Pineo recalls “Nigel will
be remembered as a fine attacking batsman, brilliant cover point and friend to many at
North Oxford in the seventies.” A talented all-round sportsman, Nigel also played rugby for
Oxfordshire and in later years took up golf.

In 1971 Nigel arrived at Bloxham School as Head of Geography, a post he was to hold for 19
years. He also became a housemaster at the school and remained there until his retirement
in 2004. He ran and coached the school teams in both cricket and rugby for many seasons.
The school’s obituary records “All those who knew Nigel will remember with affection his
consistent good cheer and even temperament, linked to an impish sense of humour,
youthful appearance, and mop of (mainly) blonde hair.” For those cricketers who played
with or against him, these sentiments will seem to sum him up perfectly.

Enthuse Evening Registration – Oxfordshire 2023
Young Leaders in Cricket Programme

Come and learn more about how to attain leadership and life skills using the characteristics of cricket to become an effective volunteer at your club, school or the community. This programme puts together a series of useful and informative training modules for 14-16yr olds to involve themselves in club community life.

This week saw the first round of games in Division 1 of the Banbury Indoor League.

The feature of the night was a really closely contested round of fixtures.

Cropredy 92-5 with James Coleman 27no and Luke Cherry 24no & 2-29 beat Banbury Vets 91-6 with G Crook 35; Chris Phillips 22 and James Risbridger 3-36.

Banbury 95-3 with Andy Prior 25no & 2-32 and Liam Manley 18no beat Charlbury 92-6  with S Smith 22.

Hook Norton 90-2 with Andy Stanley 28no and Dan White 25no beat Shipston 87-5 with Ryan Worthington 35no and Marcus Ireland 2-42.

Ruscote 87-5 with Ian Widdows 29 and Imran Hussain 2-32 beat Sandford 86-6 with George Coombes 32 and Chris Thompson 2-29.