2011 – A Cricket Odyssey?

 2011 – A Cricket Odyssey?

 “In the spring a young man’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love.”

So wrote Tennyson but, unlike his grandson who captained Hampshire and England, the poet didn’t play cricket.

Had he done so, he would have realised that the senses are aroused in other ways every April: the scent of newly mown grass, the feel on the skin of the warm sun and the mellow sound of leather on willow (or should it be Widdows?). These are the real harbingers of spring.

And so, down at the Willows, the start of the season is eagerly awaited.

The recent dry warm weather has enabled David Woodburn and John Hodson to get the grounds at Rolleston and Marchington into excellent shape for the first matches, although it has to be said that we could have done with more volunteers to lend Ian Wakefield and his helpers a hand at the recent NatWest Cricket Force weekend. Nevertheless, a lot was done and the remaining jobs will have to be done in the evenings now that the days are lengthening.

The youth section has had a busy winter, with three age groups competing in local indoor leagues as well as practising hard. The outdoor sessions have already started, with the Fun-damentals (Kwik) group meeting on Tuesday evenings (5.30-6.30), and the 11s, 13s and 15s practising on Friday evenings from 6.00 to 7.30. The first youth league game is on Thursday, April 21^st (under15s) with the other teams starting the following week.

It is pleasing to report that several of our youngsters have been successful in being chosen for representative teams this season. Andrew Cooper, Dan Wildman, new member Elliot Lawley and Ellie Cheatle are all in the Derbyshire squads at their age groups, whilst seven other players have been chosen for the district squads: Luke Arnold, David Powell-Jones, Joe Parker, Brandon Ridgeway, Jacob Buxton, Liam Goode and Daniel Featherstone. We wish them every success. Thanks go to Gareth Marshall and the coaches who have contributed to their development.

The senior squads will have a new face this year. Zac Fried flies in next week from Perth, Western Australia, where he has been playing in the same team as Surrey’s Chris Schofield and Ticknall’s Luke Harvey.

There are three warm-up friendly matches arranged before the start of the DCCL season on April 30^th. We entertain Quarndon on April 16^th, Ticknall on the 23^rd and Clifton on the following day.

There is a welcome innovation introduced by the DCCL this season – a Twenty20 competition with the finals at the county ground under lights. The first round of matches is on June 5^th when we have been drawn against Staveley Welfare at Denby.

Practice nights for Seniors and Under17s will be Tuesdays and Thursdays this summer, and our facilities will shortly be enhanced by the provision of a roll-on net which can be used on a dedicated strip on the square. This will complement the artificial surface.

So, all in all, this is an exciting time for the club. Let the season’s journey begin. Who needs to be thinking about love?

April 13th 2011