Horspath open revamped season at home to Banbury

HORSPATH will finally open their season at home to Banbury on Saturday, July 18 after the Home Counties Premier League issued a revamped fixture list today.

Ready for action

The league postponed its fixtures back in March following the ECB's suspension of all cricket activities due to the coronavirus pandemic. Now, with the ECB having announced the return of recreational cricket after getting government go-ahead, the Home Counties has amalgamated Divisions 1 and 2 with clubs to play localised 40-over pink ball cricket under ECB rules.

This will see clubs play eight fixtures on a league basis with Horspath's other games: July 25 v Aston Rowant (A), Aug 1 v Great Brickhill (H), Aug 8 v Thame Town (A), Aug 15 v Chesham (H), Aug 22 v Slough (A), Aug 29 v Oxford (A), Sept 5 v Oxford Downs (H).

At the end of those games, the top four and the next top four - excluding the clubs who have indicated they do not wish to play beyond September 5 if they are still of that mind - will play off for a Cup and Plate in semi-finals and a final. Matches from July 18 to August 8 will start at 12.30pm with games from August 15 to September 5 getting under way at 12noon. Play-off start times are to be confirmed.

The Home Counties have taken this step as the ECB advocates local fixtures, reduced travel and 40 overs is regarded as "best practice". The fixtures will operate in synchronization with the Cherwell League, who plan to issue a confirmed fixture list by Tuesday.

All Cherwell games will be 40-overs per side with win/lose results, and a 1pm start coming forward to 12.30pm after August 22. Existing league rules for win/lose cricket will stand, with pro-rata reductions for the likes of bowlers' maximum allocation of overs, which will be eight.

Meanwhile, Horspath are to warm up for the new season with an inter-club match at the Rec this Saturday, while there will be a 'roll up and play' training match on the back pitch. Anyone wishing to take part in the latter activity should arrive at the back pitch at 12.15. Changing rooms and showers are unavailable, so players should come prepared in training kit, along with their own sanitiser.

The club also have a match at home to Oxenford on Sunday, starting at 1.30pm.





Posted by: Russ