News

Team News – Oxfordshire Women V Cricket East Women 13th 2025

11/07/2025 by Admin

Oxfordshire is pleased to announce the 12-player squad selected to face Cricket East (Bedfordshire & Huntingdonshire) in the final round of the Vitality Blast Women’s League 3 – Division 2 South, taking place on Sunday 13 July 2025.

Unbeaten at the top of the table with six wins from six matches, Oxfordshire will be aiming to continue their perfect run and secure the top spot in the division. The winner of Division 2 South will face the winner of Division 2 North in the Vitality T20 Blast Final on Sunday 27th July 2025.

The squad sees just one change from the previous fixture, with Rabiya Dogar returning in place of the unavailable Kirsty Dymond. Seventeen-year-old Felicity Rae-Welsh retains her place following a strong performance.

Didcot Cricket Club will host the Oxfordshire Women for the first time, with the opening game scheduled to begin at 11:00.

Forename	Surname	Current Club	Age as of 1st April
Forename	Surname	Current Club	01/04/2025
Emilia	Bartram	Oxford CC	31
Maya	Barnwell	Banstead CC	19
Rabiya	Dogar	Horspath CC	15
Sophie	Grayson	Dorridge CC	20
Ellie	Ingram	Moreton CC	30
Sophie	Mitchelmore	Oxford CC	24
Lottie	Oxton	Charlbury CC	20
Genevieve	Porter	Oxford CC	35
Felicity	Rae-Welsh	Oxford CC	17
Niamh	Rogan	Moreton CC	14
Katie	Waugh	Charlbury CC	17
Maisie	Wright	Oxford CC	20
Total All Ages			262
Total Ages minus 3 Eldest			173.00
Average Age Youngest 8			21.63

The Future Leaders Academy 2025/26 Sign Ups Open

10/07/2025 by Admin

Oxfordshire Cricket is delighted to open up sign ups for the new Year 1 Cohort in 2025/2026 of the ‘Future Leaders Academy, a FREE programme designed for young leaders.

Following an outstanding response with the inaugural 2024/25 first cohort with 187 young people signing up, we are thrilled to open up sign ups for a new Year 1 cohort that will run alongside the Year 2 Cohort.

With clubs and the game requiring volunteers, our aim is to help inspire a new generation of individuals to volunteer. Volunteers are the heartbeat and lifeblood of the recreational game, and many clubs and communities rely on a small number who do a great amount.

The aim of this programme is to inspire individuals aged 13 to 18 (school years 8 to 13) to become a ‘Young Leader’ in volunteering. The course content will provide young individuals with a toolkit of qualifications that they can then use at their club or local community group which will directly benefit them and the clubs/community that they are involved in.

The programme will include up to eight modules, with individuals selecting a mixture of mandatory (four) and optional modules (up to four). The modules will take place over the winter to then enable individuals to take what they learnt into their volunteering in time for the season.

This programme includes the following mandatory and optional modules:

Mandatory Modules

Coaching – Activators Course (Coaching)
Umpiring and Scoring – Introduction to Umpiring and Scoring
First Aid
Safeguarding

Optional Modules

Marketing
The Grounds Management Association Workshop
Nutrition and Health Workshop
Sports Psychology and Mental Health – Introduction

The whole programme will be free

This means that individuals will receive up to eight certificated workshops listed above for free. The Young Leader programme encourages individuals to use the qualifications they’ve obtained on the course to complete voluntary hours at their cricket club.

To view a summary video of the Future Leaders Academy Year 1 – CLICK HERE

To view a summary document of the Future Leaders Academy – CLICK HERE

Accreditation Process and Reward & Recognition

We will have three levels that will be based on the number of hours volunteering that an individual has completed. They will be labelled as Bronze, Silver or Gold hours. This will need to be verified by being signed off by a club official who will also be asked to provide a supporting statement/reference on how the individual did and the impact that they had, In addition, the course will dovetail nicely with Young Leaders completing volunteer hours as part of other award schemes such as, the Duke of Edinburgh Award.

To recognise outstanding contributions to the game, all course graduates will be invited to Cricket Collective Grassroot Cricket Awards. At the event, individuals will receive their certificates for completing the course as part of a wider celebration of Oxfordshire volunteers. Young leaders will receive a reward from our partners such as Serious Cricket.

Bronze: 10 Hours of Volunteering (in addition to the completion of the mandatory modules)

Silver: 20 Hours of Volunteering (in addition to the completion of the mandatory modules)

Gold: 30 Hours of Volunteering (in addition to the completion of the mandatory modules)

Benefits to the individual

An opportunity for individuals to develop themselves and gain certificates and qualifications
Build up experiences for CV
Link to the Duke of Edinburgh award and other sports leader schemes
Meet new people and enjoy the cricket social life
Have fun
Contribute to the development and sustainability of cricket by volunteering
Gain experience of working within a sports environment along with many transferable skills
Access to volunteer opportunities, including at Oxfordshire Cricket
Join the Oxfordshire Cricket family, raise your profile and be on our radar for future development and support

Timeline

Sign Ups Open: June 2025
Sign Ups Close: End of July- 2025
Workshops Take Place: October – March –April- 2025/26
Volunteer Window: March – August – 2026
Reward and Recognition – September 2026

How to Sign Up and Next Steps

The deadline to Sign Up or express an interest is Friday 1st August 2025.

For the Year 1 Cohort in 2025/2026 please fill out the expression of interest form

You can sign up or express your interest by CLICKING HERE

For those that were part of the inaugural year, the Year 2 Cohort Sign Up process will be communicated directly to you.

We will then analyse the sign ups, and look to provide you with further information in August to book the workshops

When will the workshops take place?

The face to face workshops will take place in the half terms of October, February and April. It is expected that there will be caps for workshops, with different slots available on a first come first served basis. Individuals have the opportunity to book the workshop date and venue that suits them best.

The virtual workshops will be scheduled across a mixture of those half terms and weekday evenings in term time.

What is the minimum number of hours of volunteering required?

To complete the programme you need to complete all the mandatory modules, and a minimum of 10 hours to get Bronze.

Wolvercote Retain U15 County Cup – U15 County Cup Finals Roundup

08/07/2025 by Admin

The U15 County Cup Finals Day on Sunday 6th July 2025 delivered a fantastic showcase of youth cricket, hosted at the beautiful grounds of St Edward’s School, to whom we extend our sincere thanks for their hospitality and support.

The day saw four competitive teams—Wolvercote CC, Tiddington CC, Cropredy CC, and Langford CC—battle it out for county honours.

Semi-Finals

Wolvercote CC vs Tiddington CC

Wolvercote CC secured a hard-fought win over Tiddington CC in the first semi-final. Batting first, Tiddington posted 129/7, with Daniel Tervet top scoring with 25 and Richard Barnes contributing 17*. In reply, Wolvercote CC chased down their target with contributions from captain Tom Bratby 27, Hugo du Plessis 25, Suleiman Ayyaz 27* and Max Lucking 18 to guide them into the final with a 4 wicket win.

Langford CC vs Cropredy CC

In the second semi-final, Cropredy CC powered to 114/7, boosted by Sam Dunning’s 47 and a Joe Swifts 15* in a rain reduced 15 over match. Langford CC fell short of the target, finishing on 30 all out with Vinupa Sirimanne and Samuel Coleman taking 3 wickets apiece.

Final – Wolvercote CC vs Cropredy CC

Wolvercote CC successfully defended their title with a 20-run win over Cropredy CC in the final. Batting first, they posted 135/6, led by Archie Ricks (48), Hugo du Plessis (31), and a valuable 20* from Max Lucking.

Cropredy CC made a spirited attempt in reply but were restricted to 114/8 in their 20 overs. Henry Downes top-scored with 26. Wolvercote’s bowling attack was led by Harry Bewes and Frazer Ashton, who took two wickets each, supported by sharp fielding including key run outs from Tom Bratby and Archie Logue.

A special thank you to St Edward’s School for generously hosting this year’s Finals Day. Their excellent facilities, warm welcome, and support made the event a memorable and enjoyable occasion for players, coaches, and families alike.

Congratulations to all teams for an exciting day of cricket and to Wolvercote CC U15—the 2025 County Cup Champions who go onto represent Oxfordshire in the nationals

Charlbury Win U13 Ron Maudsley – U13 Ron Maudsley Finals Day Roundup

08/07/2025 by Admin

The U13 Ron Maudsley Cup Finals Day on Sunday 6th July 2025 delivered a fantastic showcase of youth cricket, hosted at the beautiful grounds of St Edward’s School, to whom we extend our sincere thanks for their hospitality and support.

The day saw four competitive teams—Charlbury CC, Thame Town CC, Goring on Thames CC, and Oxford CC—battle it out for county honours.

Semi-Finals

Charlbury CC vs Oxford CC

Charlbury CC secured a hard-fought win over Oxford CC in the first semi-final. Batting first, Charlbury posted 117/7, with Samuel Jones anchoring the innings with 30* and Louis Harris-Bass contributing a crucial 26. In reply, Oxford CC fought back with solid efforts from Kitt Goss (15) and Jacob Rowland (16), but they were bowled out for 111. George Eaton starred with the ball, taking 3 wickets.

Goring on Thames CC vs Thame Town CC

In the second semi-final, Goring on Thames CC powered to 133/7, boosted by Elliott Rhind’s 25 and extras. Thame Town CC fell short of the revised 99-run target, finishing on 81/5 despite a resilient knock from Joshua Lowe (20*). Joshua Lowe also impressed with the ball earlier, claiming 3 wickets.

Final – Charlbury CC vs Goring on Thames CC

Charlbury CC clinched the Ron Maudsley Cup with a commanding victory in the final. Batting first, they amassed 141/7 thanks to an elegant 31 (retired) from Zachery Lewis and a quickfire 25 from Louis Harris-Bass. Despite a spirited reply, Goring on Thames were bowled out for 84. Louis Harris-Bass led the charge with the ball too, taking 4 wickets in a match-winning all-round performance.

Congratulations to all teams for an exciting day of cricket and to Charlbury CC U13—the 2025 Ron Maudsley Cup Champions who go onto represent Oxfordshire in the nationals

Team News – Oxfordshire Men 2nd XI v Wiltshire 3rd July 2025

02/07/2025 by Admin

Oxfordshire Cricket has named a 12-player squad for their Second XI fixture against Wiltshire on Thursday 3rd July 2025.

The squad includes seven players who featured in the previous Second XI encounter against Berkshire, which ended with honours shared. Five new players have been added to complete the lineup, including 16-year-old Oliver Offwood, who is set to make his senior debut. He is joined by left-arm spinner Ben Lucking, also in line for his first senior appearance. Ethan Barksfield returns to the side for his first match of the season, having recently completed his A-Level examinations. George Baines and Henry Welch, who contributed to the First XI’s double victory over Bedfordshire on Sunday, are also included in the squad for this fixture.

The Second XI plays a vital role in player development, providing a competitive platform that bridges the gap between the youth pathway and senior cricket. It offers emerging talent the opportunity to gain valuable experience and push for First XI selection.

The first of two T20 matches is scheduled to begin at 11:00am.

Forename	Surname/Initial	Playing Qualification	Age as of 1st April	Current Club in 2025
Forename	Surname/Initial	Playing Qualification	01/04/2025	Current Club in 2025
Tahmid	AHMED MA	N/A	22	Weston-Super-Mare CC
Oliver	ARMSTRONG OH	Age Group	20	Oxford Downs CC
George	BAINES GP	Birth	20	Knowle and Dorridge CC
Ethan	BARKSFIELD EE	Age Group	17	High Wycombe CC
Gaarjuran	GANAGABALAN	Age Group	19	Reading CC
Oliver	OFFWOOD	Age Group	16	Ickenham CC
Ahmed	KHAN A	University	20	Dulwich CC
Ben	LUCKING BE	N/A	23	Three Bridges CC
Luke	MASLEN LT	Age Group	22	Oxford Downs CC
Tristan	ROSSOUW TO	Age Group	19	Aston Rowant
Rahul	TANGIRALA R	N/A	18	Three Bridges CC
Henry	WELCH HR	Age Group	17	Oxford Downs CC
Total All Ages (full squad)			233
Total Ages minus 3 Eldest (full squad)			168
Average Age Youngest 8 (full squad)			21.00

Alfie Smethurst Joins Sussex Cricket Academy

27/06/2025 by Admin

Oxfordshire’s Alfie Smethurst Joins Sussex Cricket Academy

Oxfordshire Cricket is proud to announce that 18-year-old left-arm finger spin bowler, Alfie Smethurst, has been recruited onto the Sussex County Cricket Club (Sussex CCC) Academy, marking an exciting milestone in his cricketing journey.

Alfie’s association with Oxfordshire Cricket began as a pace bowler with the Under 10s age group, playing for Wessex and Saxons the following year. His transition to spin at Under-12 proved a pivotal moment in his development. That same year, Alfie earned his first county age group cricket selection as a spinner and played a key role in leading the Oxfordshire Under-12 squad to the prestigious Shrewsbury Festival title 2019.

Progressing through the pathway system, Alfie has represented Oxfordshire right through to the Men’s 2nd XI. In 2020, he was identified as a high-potential player and joined the development programme at the time sought to act as a bridge between the Pathway and Boys Emerging Players Programme. Alife was recruited on to 2021-2022 Boys Emerging Players Programme.

Alfie’s standout achievements include finishing as the leading wicket-taker at the 2022 ECB David English Bunbury Festival, claiming ten wickets while representing the South & West Under-15 side — a testament to his growing reputation at the national level. Since 2023, Alfie has played for Sussex Under-18s, taking advantage of the ECB dual registration system between Oxfordshire Cricket and Sussex CCC. This system allows talented players to access playing and developmental opportunities across both counties. Now officially part of the Sussex Cricket Academy, Alfie joins fellow Oxfordshire players Arthur Hanson and Julian Laird, further highlighting the success of Oxfordshire Cricket’s talent development system in producing players capable of progressing into Academy programmes.

We congratulate Alfie on this significant step and look forward to seeing his continued growth as he takes on this exciting new challenge. Alfie has an exciting year ahead having recently signed with Brunswick Cricket Club for the 2025/26 Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association in Australia and will attend the International Cricket Programme.

On the news of joining the Sussex Cricket Academy, Alfie said:

“Obviously really chuffed with the news, it’s something I identified as a goal to reach in the last couple of years and to reach it brings a lot of happiness. Being able to bounce back after being injured all of last season and to have the backing of Keith Greenfield and Sussex gives me a lot of confidence when playing. My goal following the news is to try and get myself into the 2nd Xi and see where it goes from there. I’m also really appreciative of the people who have supported me to this point like Barnesy who has coached me for a long while, but especially Rupert as he’s been there to help me out with my game at pretty much every step of my journey since joining Oxfordshire and having someone there who knows your game is really good especially when i’m feeling out of form.”

Matthew Barnes – Performance Director at Oxfordshire Cricket said:

“Alfie has progressed through every stage of our talent development system, and his journey has been marked by both significant highs and challenging setbacks. On an individual level, he has represented the South & West in Regional Cricket at Under-15s, and has also played key roles in teams that have won County Age Group festivals. Like many young athletes, Alfie has also faced adversity, most notably a thumb injury that unfortunately ruled him out of a large part of the 2024 season, as well as the wider disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

I have been fortunate to have worked closely with Alfie at various stages of his development, initially as his coach in the Under-12 and Under-13 County Age Groups, and later via the Boys Emerging Players Programme when we made the decision to invest our time, resources, and support into his development. Now, it’s incredibly rewarding that he has earned selection onto Sussex Cricket Academy, through our partnership with Sussex County Cricket Club.

Alfie, his family, and all those who have supported him over the years should be immensely proud of his Academy selection which is richly deserved. On behalf of everyone at Oxfordshire Cricket, I extend our congratulations and wish him every success with the opportunities that lie ahead. Once Alfie completes his academic commitments, he can look forward to the season ahead with Sussex and our Oxfordshire Men’s team, before embarking on life’s next chapter in Australia.”

Keith Greenfield – Director of Pathways and Cricket Partnerships at Sussex Cricket said:

“Alfie has continued to improve his all round skills added to his clear quality of his Left arm spin and he deserves his chance over the next period to see how far he can push himself and progress in the game and we look forward to helping try to fulfill his potential”

Team News – Oxfordshire Women V Suffolk Women 29th June 2025

27/06/2025 by Admin

Oxfordshire Cricket is pleased to announce the 12-player squad selected to face Suffolk in the Vitality Women’s T20 Blast Division 2 South fixtures on Sunday, 29th June 2025, at Bury St Edmunds Cricket Club.

Currently sitting top of the table with four wins from four matches, Oxfordshire heads into Sunday’s double-header full of belief, confidence, and momentum. The matches however promise to be a stern test, with Suffolk close behind in second place.

There are two changes to the squad from the previous fixture: Aimee Diab and Rabiya Dogar are unavailable for the away trip, paving the way for Maisie Wright to return to the side and for 17-year-old Felicity Rae-Welsh to make her debut.

Forename	Surname	Current Club	Age as of 1st April
Forename	Surname	Current Club	01/04/2025
Emilia	Bartram	Oxford CC	31
Maya	Barnwell	Banstead CC	19
Kirsty	Dymond	Oxford Downs CC	23
Sophie	Grayson	Dorridge CC	20
Ellie	Ingram	Moreton CC	30
Sophie	Mitchelmore	Oxford CC	24
Lottie	Oxton	Charlbury CC	20
Genevieve	Porter	Oxford CC	35
Felicity	Rae-Welsh	Oxford CC	17
Niamh	Rogan	Moreton CC	14
Katie	Waugh	Charlbury CC	17
Maisie	Wright	Oxford CC	20
Total All Ages			270
Total Ages minus 3 Eldest			181.00
Average Age Youngest 8			22.63

Team News – Oxfordshire Men v Bedfordshire 29th June 2025

27/06/2025 by Admin

Oxfordshire Cricket has named a 12-man squad for their final round National Counties Cricket Association (NCCA) T20 double-header against Bedfordshire, taking place this Sunday, 29th June 2025, at Luton Town & Indians Cricket Club.

With just two wins from six games, Oxfordshire face a must-win scenario. Victories in both fixtures against Bedfordshire are likely essential to secure a place in the Super 12 stage, with only three of the five teams progressing from Group 3. Even with two wins, Oxfordshire’s qualification hopes will depend on results from the final round of matches, set for Sunday 6th July.

The squad sees four changes from the team that faced Buckinghamshire. Pace bowler Tom Davis returns to bolster the bowling attack after missing the previous match. Oxfordshire-born George Baines is set to make his debut, replacing the unavailable Jacob Townsend. Luke Maslen is recalled to the side following impressive recent performances for Oxford Downs CC and the 2nd XI against Berkshire on Thursday, 26 June 2025. Seventeen-year-old leg-spinner Henry Welch, Oxfordshire’s leading wicket-taker last season, is back in the squad after completing his school exams. Arjun Ramkumar also returns, having missed the last two rounds of matches in the competition due to university commitments. Meanwhile, Ayush Patel retains his place at the top of the order after a strong debut two weeks ago.

Forename	Surname/Initial	Playing Qualification	Age as of 1st April	Current Club in 2025
Forename	Surname/Initial	Playing Qualification	01/04/2025	Current Club in 2025
George	BAINES GP	Birth	20	Knowle and Dorridge CC
Thomas	DAVIS TE	N/A	24	Knowle and Dorridge CC
Dylan	DRISCOLL DA	Age Group	19	Oxford CC
Luke	HAYES LB	Age Group	19	Aston Rowant CC
Ahmed	KHAN A	University	20	Dulwich CC
Luke	MASLEN LT	Age Group	22	Oxford Downs CC
Ayush	PATEL AA	University	22	Banstead CC
Arjun	RAMKUMAR	Club	23	Banbury CC
Hayden	ROSSOUW HK	Club	24	Aston Rowant
Tristan	ROSSOUW TO	Age Group	19	Aston Rowant
George	TAIT GG	Age Group	23	Banbury CC
Henry	WELCH HR	Age Group	17	Oxford Downs CC
Total All Ages (full squad)			252
Total Ages minus 3 Eldest (full squad)			182
Average Age Youngest 8 (full squad)			22.75

Pathway Roundup: 21st – 22nd June

26/06/2025 by Admin

Team News – Oxfordshire Men 2nd XI v Berkshire 26th June 2025

25/06/2025 by Admin

Oxfordshire Cricket Names Squad for Second eleven Season Opener Against Berkshire

Oxfordshire Cricket has announced a twelve player squad for their opening Second eleven fixture of the 2025 season, set to take place on Thursday 26th June at Banbury Cricket Club against Berkshire.

The squad features seven players who were involved in the first eleven against Buckinghamshire in the National Counties Cricket Association (NCCA) T20 Competition on Sunday 15th June. Returning to the side are Luke Maslen, Rahul Tangirala, and Oliver Armstrong who have all featured in the first eleven this year. Also returning is Eitan Litvin, making his first appearance of the season following time out of action after contributing to last year’s championship campaign. Rory Nicholson is named in the squad for the first time since facing Berkshire in 2023, rewarded for strong performances with the Boys Under-18s last season.

The Second Eleven plays a key role in supporting player development by offering competitive match opportunities, bridging the gap between the youth pathway and senior cricket, and providing a platform for players to push for first eleven selection. Oxfordshire will be aiming to deliver a strong performance in the set of Twenty20 fixtures at home as preparations continue for the next phase of NCCA competition and beyond. The first game is due to commence at 11:00am.

Forename	Surname/Initial	Playing Qualification	Age as of 1st April	Current Club in 2025
Forename	Surname/Initial	Playing Qualification	01/04/2025	Current Club in 2025
Tahmid	AHMED MA	N/A	22	Weston-Super-Mare CC
Oliver	ARMSTRONG OH	Age Group	20	Oxford Downs CC
Dylan	DRISCOLL DA	Age Group	19	Oxford CC
Gaarjuran	GANAGABALAN	Age Group	19	Reading CC
Luke	HAYES LB	Age Group	19	Aston Rowant CC
Amogh	KARPE AS	University	19	Hampstead CC
Ahmed	KHAN	University	20	Dulwich CC
Eitan	LITVIN EB	N/A	25	Cleckheaton CC
Luke	MASLEN LT	Age Group	22	Oxford Downs CC
Rory	NICHOLSON RA	Age Group	19	Cumnor CC
Tristan	ROSSOUW TO	Age Group	19	Aston Rowant
Rahul	TANGIRALA	N/A	18	Three Bridges CC
Total All Ages (full squad)			241
Total Ages minus 3 Eldest (full squad)			174
Average Age Youngest 8 (full squad)			21.75