Oxfordshire Cricket is pleased to announce the 12 player squad to play against Hampshire and Somerset on Sunday 26th of May at Bicester and North Oxford CC.

The selected squad is subject to any change before now and Sunday morning.

Oxfordshire’s Over 60s go marching on!

Another two wins out of the two games that escaped the weather

Oxfordshire’s Over 60s cricketers continued their good run of early season form with another two wins for the 1st and 3rd XIs.

And it could have been even better had not the Over 60s 2nds and 4ths matches against Warwickshire and Wales respectively, fallen victim to the weather, as well as the joint Ox/Berks Over 70s away fixture at Edgbaston against Warwickshire.   

The Over 60s 1st XI made light work of its first away trip of the season to Berkshire winning emphatically by nine wickets, thanks to an excellent all-round team performance after skipper Phil Manger won the toss and inserted the hosts on a wicket made helpful to his bowlers by the overnight rain.

Steve Roberts was his usual miserly self with the ball, returning the extraordinary figures of 2-8 off nine overs. Tim Mahoney was top wicket taker with 3-27 from nine, while Rupert Taylor chipped in with 2-17 from five to mop up the tail.

For Berkshire only Graham Cassie, Ian Harvey and Chris Symonds managed to get past 20, as the hosts struggled to post a modest 122 all out.

In reply openers Nick Morman and Darryl Woods looked in total control throughout a superb opening stand of 117, that almost brought up the win without loss. However, Nick eventually perished having batted very steadily for his 38, before Darryl Woods and Charlie Anderson closed the game out, with Woods compiling a masterly 72 not out off just 91 balls to add to his earlier 1-28 from nine with the ball.

“It was one of those days when everything just clicked into place,” said skipper Manger. “As well as batting and bowling superbly we also took three really good catches today, which is in no small part thanks to a new warm up routine which now has us looking a whole lot sharper in the field from ball one.”

And it was a similar story for the Over 60s 3rd XI in their home match against Warwickshire thirds at Cropredy. Skipper Clive Ricks won the toss and his bowlers soon had the visitors toiling for every run on a predictably low, slow pitch – again after heavy overnight rain.

Opening bowler Nigel Walker was wicketless but only conceded 20 runs from his nine overs, while first change Steve Wilson was even more economical with 1-9 from his nine! But yet again it was Mike Simpson who stole the show after his ‘unorthodox’ run out technique had saved the day last week. His 5-17 from nine ripped the heart out of the visitors batting and left the hosts just 118 to win. Mike Thornton’s 33 from 73 balls was the only score of note in Warwickshire’s innings.

Oxfordshire’s reply stuttered somewhat at 33 for 2 and there was a glimmer of hope for Warks. However,  Tom Scrase 35, and Richard Clapp 37 not out, put on 42 for the third wicket before Scrase fell to an excellent catch in the deep by Steve Griffin. But with less than 40 required off 22 overs, only one more wicket fell in the remaining 10 overs required to finish the game, and Oxfordshire cruised home with some ease.

Next week sees the Over 60s 4th XI hopefully finally getting into action at home on Monday against Wiltshire at Steventon CC. This follows the loss to the weather of their opening game against Wales at Machen CC near Newport, which has now been rescheduled for July 1st at the same ground.

 The following day the Over 60s 1st, 2nd and 3rd XIs should all be in action weather permitting. The firsts are at home to Hertfordshire at Watlington, the seconds are away to Leicestershire at Bitteswell CC near Lutterworth, while the thirds tackle Staffordshire at Fordhouses CC just outside Wolverhampton.

Meanwhile the joint Ox/Berks Over 70s XI are on the road again next week when they’re off to Abbots Langley where they will also be taking on Hertfordshire. 

Oxfordshire Cricket are pleased to announce the Men’s squad selected to play in the Super 12s stage of the National Counties Cricket Association (NCCA) T20 competition this coming Sunday 19th May 2024. Oxfordshire progressed as winners of Group 4 and will now compete against Cambridgeshire and Dorset at Great & Little Tew CC for a place at T20 Final days next weekend. The match order for the 

• Game 1 – Oxfordshire v Cambridgeshire @ 10am
• Game 2 – Dorset v Loser of Game 1 @ 1pm
• Game 3 – Dorset v Winner of Game 1 @ 4.30pm

* There are 15 minutes for the break between innings and timings may vary depending on the preceding matches.

Fresh off a victory against Buckinghamshire in the One Day Trophy last weekend, Oxfordshire will be hoping to maintain momentum as their return to the Twenty20 format against Cambridgeshire and Dorset on Sunday. Oxfordshire have remained committed to the players who were selected to play in the group stages of the competition and have selected a squad with the average age of the squad just twenty two and a half years for the Super 12s.

Jonny Cater will lead the team that includes home-grown Sussex CCC professional players, Zach Lion-Cachet and Harrison Ward. Fellow Sussex CCC players who played in earlier rounds are all unavailable for selection. Tom Davis is fit to play again having been unavailable for selection since the opening round and he joins Tom Hinley as the only two non-qualifying players permitted out of a possible three in the Oxfordshire squad. Oxfordshire and Sussex Academy players, Julian Laird and Dylan Driscoll are unavailable as they represent Sussex Under 18s as is Luke Hayes who remains absent with injury. The selected squad is subject to any change before now and Sunday morning. 

Cricket has made a commitment to shift the culture of the game to be one where everyone feels like they can belong. As part of this commitment, an independent consultancy has been asking big questions and having honest chats with people across England and Wales to find out different perspectives on the game’s culture today and the ambitions for the future. These conversations have helped develop a set of themes.

Now we’re asking anyone with any connection to cricket (and their friends, family and communities) to get involved and join The Big Cricket Conversation. Every voice will help shape a news set of values that will guide our sport and, ultimately, the culture that gives life to our game.

How to get involved

The survey will run until Monday 3 June and our ambition is to get as many voices as possible to help shape the future values.

Get involved by:

● Taking the survey at thebigcricketconversation.co.uk

● Sharing the survey with your friends / team / club / community / network contacts / partners

● Raise awareness about the survey on social media using
#TheBigCricketConversation #RaisingTheGame

Five wins out of five for Oxfordshire’s Seniors Group teams

The Oxfordshire Seniors Group has got its 2024 season off to a flying start with five wins out of five in its first two completed rounds of the Over 60s and Over 70s County Championships.

The Over 60s 1st XI got the ball rolling with a first round home win by five wickets against Bedfordshire at a very cold and blustery Challow and Childrey CC on April 23rd.

Beds won the toss and chose to bat and mustered just 140 all out thanks to some miserly bowling by Steve Roberts 2-18 from nine overs and Tim Mahoney 2-20 from nine, with Paul Hemming weighing in with 3-22 as the leading wicket taker.

In reply a steady 60 not out off 105 balls from Darryl Woods saw the hosts home by five wickets.

The following weeks game on April 30th against Bucks was called off but Phil Manger’s side were back in action the following week on May 7th when they took on Northants at Banbury CC.

The visitors won the toss and opted to field and Oxfordshire soon had the runs flowing freely as skipper Manger and Nick Morman put on 76 for the first wicket in good time. Phil made 46, Nick 53 and together with good contributions from Paul Hemming, 22, Charlie Anderson, 24, and Nick Edmondson, 35, the hosts closed on 241 for nine. 

In reply the visitors finished 49 runs short on 182 all out, despite a fine 65 from David Heathfield, well supported by Richard Denton with 40, mainly thanks to match winning spell with the ball by Paul Hemming who finished with figures of 7-44 from his nine overs. 

On the same day – in the 2nd XI competition Andy Haynes and his men made the long trip to Grantham CC to take on Lincolnshire and came home with a fine win by 47 runs, after winning the toss and choosing to bat.

All rounder Graham Nelson batting at seven top scored with 53, with good support from both John Morton, 41 and skipper Haynes, 35. Rob Seymour took 3-38 for the hosts.

In reply Lincs made just 168-8 but looked well set when openers Mick Kearns,47, and Andy Shapp, 33, put on 51 for the first wicket. However Alan Weaver’s 3-20 from nine and Graham Nelson’s 2-28 from nine, backed up by a miserly 0-20 from nine by Steve Kelly, ensured the win for Oxfordshire.

Meanwhile, Clive Ricks’ 3rd XI were also in action at Shipton under Wychwood CC against old rivals Gloucestershire and won by the very narrowest of margins – just one run – in an extraordinary low scoring game that had just about everything!

The hosts lost the toss and were put into bat and ground out 140 for nine in their 45 overs  mainly thanks to scores of 35 apiece by Mike Simmons and Tim Riley.

In reply two quick wickets from opening bowlers David Brook and Nigel Walker put the visitors under pressure after which they inched towards their target while losing wickets at regular intervals to Mike Simmons, skipper Ricks and Matt Todd. 

At 99 for 8 the hosts looked well in charge but then the match turned when Oxon wicketkeeper Peter Howe suffered a dislocated shoulder when colliding with one of the batsman while attempting a run out.

The visitors number nine and ten then batted very steadily, stealing singles and hitting the odd boundary and, despite losing a wicket just short of the target, were poised for the win on 139-9, before a final twist dashed victory from their grasp.

A crisp drive towards mid-wicket looked a likely match winner as it left the bat. Instead it was brilliantly parried by (or hit – depending on who you ask!) Mike Simmons at short mid wicket and fell virtually at his feet. For some reason the batsman thought there was a run to be had and called his horrified partner through for a single to tie the game. He was however, run out by a comfortable distance to leave Oxfordshire the winners by one run.

In sharp contrast the combined Oxfordshire/Berkshire Over 70s County Championship debut on May 9th at Great Tew CC could not have been more emphatic. They crushed the joint Staffs/Derby XI by the small matter of 149 runs, after their scheduled first game away to Middlesex on April 2nd fell victim to the weather.

Asked to bat Ox/Berks put together a challenging 192-8, mainly thanks to 48 from Jerry Senior, supported by three other scores of 20 plus from the batting unit. Ian White’s 3-51 was the best of the visitor’s bowling

However, their reply really never got going with both openers going for 0 and only David Tingay getting into double figures with 12 – eventually leaving them 43 all out and the host’s bowlers enjoying some extraordinary figures. Trevor Spindler and Nigel Walker both turned in spells of 2-5 off nine, Ken Fuller 1-3 off six and Steve Partington 3-13 off six. Not to be outdone the fielding was pretty sharp as well with both Nigel Walker and Chad Cudjoe effecting run outs by way of direct hits from the outfield. 

All in all not a bad start to the season despite the weather!

Oxfordshire Cricket are pleased to announce the twelve-man squad selected to play against Buckinghamshire in the opening round of the National Counties Cricket Association (NCCA) One Day Trophy this coming Sunday 12th May 2024. The magnificent Wormsley Cricket Ground will be the host of the local derby that is due to commence at 11:00am.

Oxfordshire have selected their youngest squad of the season that includes seven players who have progressed via the pathway programme and a thread of experience, despite an average age of just twenty-one. Sixteen year old pathway product and Sussex Academy player, Julian Laird is selected in the first team squad for the first time and he is joined by fellow sixteen year old leg spinner, Henry Welch. Eighteen year old pathway product and Sussex Academy player, Dylan Driscoll returns to the squad having performed well in the T20 match last Sunday and there is also a welcome inclusion for eighteen year old Luke Hayes, who is progressing in his return from injury. Nineteen year old Oxford Brookes university Seb Stuart-Reckling also returns to the squad having missed the bank holiday Monday Twenty20 matches against Herefordshire.

Jonny Cater will continue to lead the fifty over team that includes Sussex CCC professional players, Zach Lion-Cachet and Harrison Ward who are available to represent their home-county. Fellow Sussex CCC players Sean Hunt, Henry Crocombe and Danial Ibrahim are all unavailable for this fixture. Left handed batter Jamie Harrison, all-rounder Hayden Rossouw and pace-bowler Prav Chahal were ever present in the Twenty20 side that progressed to the Super 12s stage of the NCCA T20 competition last weekend and they are again included for the start of the fifty over campaign. Tom Hinley is the only non-qualifying player from a permitted three in the Oxfordshire squad for this match against Buckinghamshire. George Tait is absent as he focuses on his university dissertation and pace bowler Tom Davis is out with injury. The selected squad is subject to any change before now and Sunday morning. 

Oxfordshire Cricket are pleased to announce the eleven man squad selected to play against Wales NC in the National Counties Cricket Association (NCCA) Twenty20 competition this coming Sunday 5th May 2024. The magnificent Wormsley Cricket Ground will again be host of the county with the first match commencing at 11:00am and the second due to start at 14:30pm.

With an average age of just twenty-two, Oxfordshire have again opted for a young squad that includes nine players who were selected to play in the opening round of the competition against Shropshire last weekend. Eighteen year old pathway product and Sussex Academy player, Dylan Driscoll is set to feature in the Twenty20 competition for the first time following his impressive debut in the final Championship fixture of the 2023 season. Sussex County Cricket Club’s Henry Crocombe is included in the Oxfordshire squad and is set to make his debut. Henry is joined by fellow Sussex CCC professional players, Zach Lion-Cachet and Harrison Ward who will again represent their home-county. Oxford Brookes University student Sebastain Stuart-Reckling retains his place in the squad and he is set to make his awaited debut against Wales NC. George Tait is unable to play as he serves a suspension and Jack Brooks is absent owing to family reasons. Tom Davis and Luke Hayes are all unavailable due to injury. National County sides are only permitted to field a maximum of three non-qualifying players with Henry Crocombe and Tom Hinley in the Oxfordshire squad to face Wales NC this Sunday.

The selected squad is subject to any change before now and Sunday morning.

Oxfordshire hope to get their season underway this coming Bank Holiday Monday with a trip to Worcestershire Rapids. The game will be played at Flagge Meadow and will be the women’s first fixture of the 2024 season after the preseason match against Buckinghamshire and opening competitive game of the season were cancelled.

Oxfordshire will be captained for the first time by Emilia Bartram following her appointment as captain during the winter months, with the italy international making her ninety-eighth appearance for the County. Southern Vipers and England Under 19s international, Abi Norgrove is available to play for her home county following an impressive winter in Sri Lanka with the England Under 19s. Chloe Westbury, Aimee Diab and Katie Waugh are selected and have been part of the Southern Vipers winter regional academy sessions. Lottie Oxton returns to the side after missing 2023 and she is joined by the experienced group of Carla Wood, Eleanor Ingram, Genny Porter and Georgia Haworth. Kitty Spurgeon steps up from the Girls Under 18’s after impressing at the back end of 2023 season and through the off season training. University student Maya Barnwell will make her debut for Oxfordshire following a successful open trial in the winter.

The selected squad is subject to any change before now and Monday morning.

Oxfordshire Cricket are pleased to announce the thirteen man squad selected to play against Shropshire in the opening round of the National Counties Cricket Association (NCCA) Twenty20 competition this coming Sunday 28th April 2024 at The Wormsley Cricket Ground. The first competitive Twenty20 match of the 2024 season is due to commence at 11:00am with the second due scheduled to start at 14:30pm.

Oxfordshire have again selected a youthful squad with an average age of just over twenty-three, including a significant majority of players who featured in either of the opening two pre-season friendlies. Tom Davis returns to the squad after missing last weekend against Oxford UCCE in order to manage workload, as does Prav Chahal who captained Oxford UCCE against the County. Sixteen year old Henry Welch retains his place following excellent performances in the opening two friendlies. George Tait has been rested to afford time for final year university demands and Luke Hayes is unavailable due to injury. The strong relationship between Oxfordshire and Sussex Cricket enables Zach Lion-Cachet, Harrison Ward, Danial Ibrahim and Bertie Foreman to all be available for selection, with the latter included in the squad for the first time. Also selected for the first time is Oxford Brookes University student Sebastain Stuart-Reckling. National County sides are only permitted a maximum of three non-qualifying players and there will be competition to make the starting eleven for each match amongst the four non-qualifying players within the squad. 

Assistant Coach, Alan Duncan is unavailable due to work commitments with Magdalen College School, with Physical Performance Coach, James Lamerton in to support Head Coach, Rupert Evans. Matthew Barnes will continue as Coach/Match Manager.

The selected squad is subject to any change before now and Sunday morning.