And the best may be yet to come….

Seniors’ season is their best to date and with a championship title still possible as 2024 final moved to the start of the 2025 season

“We’ve done the county proud!” were the words of Oxfordshire Seniors Group Chairman, Darryl Woods as he looked back over the 2024 seniors cricket season.

“I don’t think I’m overstating the case by saying that each of our seniors group Over 50s,  60s and 70s teams has ‘punched above its weight’ all season long, when you consider how much smaller our potential player pool is compared with counties which draw on resources from the major cities, like London, Manchester and Birmingham.  

“I’ve been delighted by the performances of all eight of the Over 50s, 60s and 70s teams in this their first season as a formal grouping under the OCB banner and also our first venture into Over 70s cricket.

“We now have just short of 150 names on the 50/60/70s player database and of that number 120 played at some stage this season, but we have to vigorously continue to recruit new players within all the seniors’ age groups as the standard required to be competitive continues to rise year on year.

“All of which requires a lot of work to ensure we get eight  teams – requiring 88 players, eight umpires and eight scorers – in the right place, at the right time, home and away, once a week, for roughly four months – and all that notwithstanding the vagaries of the weather!

“It takes a lot of time and input from for our captains who have to work together closely to keep us competitive, much of which is smoothly facilitated by the administrative genius of our secretaries – Peter Howe and Simon Brown – without whom we’d be lost. They have a spread sheet for everything! 

“I’d like to thank everyone who’s been involved this season and ask that as players if you do only one thing this closed season please ensure you get along to the AGM in the New Year so that we can get everyone’s backing for the effort required to ensure that 2025 sees us continue to move onwards and upwards,” he added.

Review of Oxfordshire Over 50s 2024

Overview

At the start of 2024 the over 10 players from the previous season made the transition to the Over 60s, thus reducing the player pool to 37 players. There was a significant need to recruit new players, and this was done through contacting all club secretaries, notices via the OCB newsletter and the Cherwell League website. This was successful and over the season the Over 50s offered debuts to 20 new players, who played over 80 matches between them.

The 1st XI only gave debuts to 2 of these 20 players, which meant Captain Mark Robey was able to field a very consistent team for each week. He was able to maintain a squad of 16 players.

The 2nd and 3rd XIs gave debuts to 18 players. The 2nd XI used a total of 32 players and the 3rds used 34.

The effect of this can be seen in the season review of each team’s performances below.

1st XI

The 1 st XI moved from their transition season in 2023 into 2024 and started with an

original squad of 15 players. Under the captaincy of Mark Robey, the team bounced

back from an opening match defeat to Wales, to record 6 consecutive wins, leaving

them joint top of the group with Wales.

The batsmen contributed significantly this season with valuable runs scored against

all the opposition played and both Pablo Mukherjee (Oxford & Bletchingdon) and

Steve Hurt (Oxford) registered individual centuries against Gloucestershire and

Warwickshire respectively, and in both of these games Pablo and Steve enjoyed high

scoring partnerships of 131 and 90 respectively. Pablo also shared a partnership of

96 with 1 st XI debutant Alex Wildman in our game against Staffordshire.

Pablo finished up 10 th highest run scorer in the competition with 367, that included

three fifties and a century.

Whilst the batsman were piling on the runs, the bowling unit this season has also

been fantastic, and the attack put pressure on the opposition batsmen each and

every game.

Three of the bowlers Nick Rivett (Oxford Downs), Sean Miller (Shipton Under

Wychwood) and Simon Smith (Sandford St Martin), registered 12 wickets or more

during the eight matches that were eventually played this season, with valuable

contributions also coming from Nick Bishop (Oxford Downs), Colin Allen (Kingston

Bagpuize) and Jason Hunt (Witney Swifts).

Shaun Miller ended up with 15 wickets during the season which made him the 10 th

most successful bowler in the competition with his best figures of 4-28 in the 1 st

round of the KO stages against Lancashire.

Unfortunately, we were unable to match the great ‘league’ performances we’d had

during the season in the KO game against Lancashire, and despite us only

managing to post 97 runs against a very strong Lancashire bowling attack, we went

down fighting, taking 7 wickets along the way before Lancashire managed to get

home.

The standard of fielding has been exceptional this season and has significantly

contributed to our success, and perhaps even stronger than that, the team spirit and

togetherness throughout has been absolutely brilliant.

With a couple of new recruits expected to be playing next season as they hit the

magic 50, the 1 st XI squad looks like getting stronger and we look forward to

progressing further in the competition in 2025.

2nd XI

The 2nds season started with 3 rained off matches, which took away a significant amount of the pre-season excitement. When the league eventually got underway the team struggled to have consistency in the playing team, this included the Captain Ross Buchanan, who through significant work commitments and philanthropic work to support developing cricket in the rural communities in Barbados was only able to play in 4 matches. The last of Ross’ matches was in the Plate Quarter Final match against Gloucestershire. Coming into bat when the team was struggling on 57-4, Ross scored 78 off 80 balls, and with Gary Cook (54 no off 53 balls) managed to get the team to 226-5. This knock took its toll on Ross, so he could not keep wicket, however he managed to position himself at fly gully to take an amazing 1 handed catch on the run. The team won by 73 runs.

This victory and Ross’ absence through work led to Vice Captain Neil Wilkins leading the team against Sussex. Batting first the 2nd XI scored 227, with Ali Shah and Jamie Stoddart putting together a 3rd wicket partnership of 135, both scoring impressive 70s. In reply Sussex batted in deteriorating light, which made fielding difficult. Batting steadily Sussex got to within 4 runs of victory, but we held on to reach the final.

The Plate Final was played at the impressive Valley End CC in Surrey, and the 2nd XI faced Nottinghamshire who had already beaten the 2nd XI in the group stage. Another tight bowling display restricted Notts to 206. In reply, an excellent opening bat display by Rob Williams, 61 not not, and a self-described “breezy’ 88 by Matt Launchbury took the lads to victory with 8 overs to spare. 

In the final, Neil Wilkins took 1 wicket, to become the most successful Over 50s bowler, with career figures of 595.1 Overs, 89 maidens, 2,172 runs, 103 wickets, average of 21.1, a strike rate of 34.7 and economy rate of 3.6 runs/over. 

A special mention to scorer, Steve Kelly, who needed to act as sub-fielder for Carl Needham, who tore another muscle whilst fielding.

3rd XI

The 3rds gave debuts to 14 of the 20 new players this season, and it must be stated that not having a stable team during the group stages led to the team not winning any group matches. However, this hides some close matches, especially against Essex who won the Eastern Group. We lost the home match by 6 runs after playing the match with 10 players.

However, this season there was a chance to play in the Plate competition. The semi-final was away to Worcestershire. Batting first we were able to score 269 off our 40 overs, with the mercurial Ali Shah scoring 123 off 89 balls. In reply Worcestershire got off to a good start, but the introduction of Mark Cairns blew away their top ordered, and Worcestershire stuttered to 238 all out.

This meant the 3rd XI would play Hampshire at Aston Rowant on the same day as the 2s played their final. The 2 league games against Hants had both been abandoned because of rain and arriving at Rowant a day after a massive rainstorm, with rain forecast did not give us much optimism of completing the match. However, skipper, Steve Bowles playing in his last ever cricket match, managed to lose the toss but unbelievably the Hants’ skipper decided to bat.

Wily Matt Todd opened the bowling and took 3 wickets, Mark Cairns took 2 and Simon Brown took 4 wickets for 8 runs to bowl of Hants for 82. In reply we reached 55-1 when the rain arrived, but there were still 5 overs needing to be bowled to make a result. A great team effort of mopping up the square with towels, applying saw dust and generally wanting to play eventually persuaded the umpires to continue the match, and we won by 9 wickets.

This was a great send off for Steve Bowles, who in 9 years played 62 times for the Over 50s, scoring 1,084 runs, taking 24 wickets as a bowler and having 30 dismissals as a wicket keeper, a great seniors’ career. 

Overall

This has been a season of change, which led to a highly successful campaign for the 1st XI, and two plate victories for the 2nd and 3rd XIs.

In total 60 players participated during the season.

Looking back over the season all five 60s and 70s teams acquitted themselves with great credit and there were a number of really outstanding individual performances.

A game of two halves

For the Over 60s 1sT XI under Phil Manger it was – to use a footballing cliché, very much a ‘game of two halves’. 

“The first half of the season we were flying,” said Phil. “We won our group with a bit to spare and qualified for the knock out stages, beating some good sides along the way. However, as soon as we embarked on the second half of the season the contrast in form and luck could not have been more marked,” he added.

After a two week mid-season break – ironically to allow postponed matches to be replayed – the first two matches of the 1st XI’s knock out campaign were lost to rain.

“We went four matches without a game and by the time we played we were ring rusty and already well behind counties who had been able to play, after which we were playing catch up, which, with a few key injuries, put paid to any hopes of progressing,” said a disappointed but philosophical skipper. 

“It’s was a long season and I think we simply ran out of steam and indeed to some extent players,” he said. 

“On our day we’re good enough to beat any county. But to compete in the latter stages of the season we need to improve our consistency and be able to move players seamlessly up from the lower teams and know they can hold their own against the best so we’re not having to rely on the same few proven performers to get us over the line at key points in games.

“However, looking back to this time last year we’ve come a long way and now have the foundations to make that improvement,” he added.

A long winter waiting…..

Meanwhile for the Over 60s 2nd XI it’s going to be a long winter, as they stand on the verge of winning the Over 60s 2nd XI County Championship. Andy Haynes’ side made it through to the final against Wales but the game was rained off at tea and will now be replayed at the beginning of the 2025 season.

“We don’t know yet when the game will be played but we’re assuming it will have to be the first competitive fixture of the season so we will truly have to hit the ground running if we’re going to win, which will make winter nets and pre-season outdoor training that little bit more interesting come the time,” said Andy.

“But looking back at 2024 it’s been an outstanding season – albeit a bit of a ‘slow burn’ to begin with. 

“If you had told me during the first half of the season when – because of the weather – we were struggling to play two games in a row let alone win two in a row – that we’d storm through the post season in the way which we did, I would have laughed heartily and probably tried to find some spurious reason for being positive about the next fixture.

“With the exception of the Wales away game  – we improved week on week in the second half of the season. I really didn’t expect to play such powerful sides as Surrey, Lancashire, and Worcestershire in the knock out stages of the competition and win as comfortably as we did.

“Given how habitually strong our final opponents Wales are I was worried that we might have peaked too soon. It was all set up for a proper showdown but sadly we’ll never know as mother nature proved to be the only winner on finals day.

“So next season will be somewhat strange, beginning with a cup final on what will probably be slow, green, early season wickets, But regardless of when and where, I know we’ll put in the sort of all-round team performance which in 2024 became the trade mark of the second eleven,” he added.

Only a quarter final….

After last year’s trip to finals day when they contested the 3rd XI County Championship final the Over 60s 3rd XI could only better that performance by winning the title in 2024. And they gave it a real good shot, eventually only succumbing to a very strong Essex side in the quarter finals.

“It was very disappointing to go out of the competition at the quarter final stage after making it through to the final last year,” said skipper Clive Ricks.

“I think we had a better squad this year but inevitably injuries and availabilities take their toll in the higher teams and quite rightly players who have performed well in the thirds get their chance to move up and test themselves at the higher level. 

“On the other hand this season we have also had the Oxfordshire Over 70s 1st XI/ Over 60s 4th XI which has provided us with match ready replacements and also opportunities to get returning players match fit and back in form after spells out injured or away from the game.

“Added to this I think the teams which have progressed to the latter stages of the competition have shown a marked improvement, particularly in fielding, an aspect of our game which has without doubt cost us games this year, particularly the quarter final against Essex, which we had in our grasp and let slip by missing opportunities to remove the two late order batters who stood firm and won the game for them, when we looked to have it secure.

“All of which gives us plenty to work on during the winter, but yet again we’ve been more than competitive, with plenty of players to select from, so I’m looking forward to the 2025 season and further improvement, he added.   

Vase semi final 

Reflecting on his side’s debut season in the Over 70s County Championship, the joint Oxs/Berks 1st XI skipper Adrian Manger said: “Inevitably it took players from the two counties who had never played together before a little while to gel, and our early season results showed that. 

However, in the second half we played better as a team and more to our strengths, and even in defeat we only lost because of outstanding individual performances from high quality players, several of whom are or have played on the international stage for England. It showed us just how good we have to be to mix it with the best in 70s cricket.

“It’s been an enjoyable season and getting to a Vase semi-final in our first year is nice but I think we could and should have been good enough to make the final. 

“Continuing our link with Berkshire for one more season will I believe ensure a pool of quality players from both counties which will enable us to remain competitive and deliver further and greater success next year, when we must set our sights on qualifying for the knock out stages of the Over 70s County Championship, which will be a full and proper test of how good we really are,” he added.

No need for golf!

Outside of the Over 60s and 70s County Championship structure the seniors group also enters a side in the South West Friendly Cricket League, which is an informal grouping of six counties which are looking to progress to entering fully independent sides in the Over 70s County Championship in which Oxfordshire currently enters a joint side with Berkshire.

It also allows a certain amount of leeway with player age restrictions which helps to ensure that everyone available gets a game – 60s or 70s – and its rarely a struggle to put out sides. Added to which it also acts in part as a de facto 60s 4th XI, which depending on further recruitment, may in the future also be able to take its place in the 60s County Championship. 

Not bad for one of the so called ‘smaller’ counties!

Skippering the side is David Beck who said: “Don’t be fooled by the ‘friendly’ part of the league’s name. It’s still very competitive cricket but played in a great spirit,” he said.

“We’ve finished in third position in the league table winning six out of our 10 games played, which for a first season I’m really pleased with. But the main things is we’re getting more and more players involved and growing the whole concept of seniors cricket. Just because you are getting a bit too old to play full on league cricket doesn’t mean you have to hang up your boots! 

“We’ve played some really good cricket this year, beaten some good sides but also learned a lot when we’ve come up short against the better ones. Most of us have been playing against each other on the league circuit for a long time and now we’re team mates, so there’s a great spirit in the side as well as the game itself.

“So if you’ve reached that age where you think it might be time to stop playing club cricket with the ‘youngsters’ and – God forbid – you’re contemplating taking up golf – DON’T! Just drop Peter Howe our secretary a line with your details on [email protected] – we’ll do the rest and you’ll be back playing in no time!” he added

Simon Brown Secretary Oxfordshire Over 50s 

Richard Clapp Press Officer for Oxfordshire Over 60s