[Cricket] The Village / Amateur CRICKET Thread- 2025 Edition

[Eeyore]

Not long now folks. I hope everyone is in training. Well, maybe not me as I just turn up, walk around the boundary and do a little scoring. Maybe nick some tea if there's any going.

I'll start this year off with a nice picture of a watching Darwin, our former mascot who sadly passed in the close season..

Darwin wasn’t just a pet, much more than that, a lot.

The symbol of our cricket club, our deeply loved mascot.


He’d watch the match, he took it in, and join in at a push.

You’d throw a ball, he’d loop the loop, and catch it in his mush


When cloud did loom and rain would fall, and pitch be full of puddles,

Dar-win would rise, and present himself, for consoling, loving cuddles.


But time is called, and stumps have drawn, on Darwin’s superb innings.

He travels high, to heavenly parks, for happy new beginnings.


Our dear old friend, our hearts do mourn, as boundary shots you follow.

Say hello to team mates passed, and enjoy your new tomorrow.

 

[Fignon's Ponytail]

Franklin returned home Tuesday evening, and is off to his first training session with Roffey tonight I believe.
Hopefully it'll be a good summer for him

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Looking forward to it. Hope I can start the season 'fit' - something that is an ever-increasing challenge.

Our league had a bit of a restructure - we have moved from 18-team divisions, to 10-team divisions where we play each side home and away. I like the change - seems more equitable to me.

Ampfield find ourselves in Hampshire League Division 4. Lots of travelling West, to areas in and close to the New Forest - starting with Hythe on the first Saturday in May.

Going well so far - TOP OF THE LEAGUE...

 

[Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo]

My oldest son is facing a race to be fit for the start of the season. He injured his shoulder kickboxing on Monday, thankfully nothing was broken but the muscle is severely bruised. It could take him a month or longer to recover which take us right up to the opening weekend of the season when he should have games on the Saturday and Sunday. He’s unable to train so is going to be climbing the walls before long.

My younger son is playing his first hard ball season and we’ve had the fixture list through which includes a 9:30am game on the same day as the Liverpool game. Hopefully we should be done well in time to get to the Amex providing they don’t bring kick off time forward.

 

[Eeyore]

Anyone in action this coming weekend ?

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Anyone in action this coming weekend ?

Was due to play an inter-club game Saturday, but it was cancelled as the square was too wet to risk damaging it.

Theres another one this Saturday, but I can’t play as have to make a 140 mile round-trip to watch a disappointing 1-1 draw with West Ham.

First league game on 2nd May, with no warm up will be a challenge.

 

[Fignon's Ponytail]

First game for Roffey next weekend I believe. Frankie is enjoying it up there so far - good vibes & is having fun.
Slightly off topic, hes also got himself a Summer coaching gig with the Sussex Pathway kids starting this weekend, and has also been invited along to a 2nds training session. Nice to see hes not completely off the radar yet.

 

[Ali_rrr]

Bit of a mental story here in Holland. The KNCB (Dutch ECB) wanted to change the league system so the top 2 divisions would have 8 teams in it, where both currently have 10. This would mean in the 2nd division, Hoofdklasse, where we play, would have FIVE teams relegated. Thankfully they've changed their mind but only last month.


If anyone is interested in reading a bit more: https://tkcricket.com/2025/03/12/kncb-faces-pushback-on-domestic-structure-overhaul/

 

[Gwylan]

First game for Roffey next weekend I believe. Frankie is enjoying it up there so far - good vibes & is having fun.
Slightly off topic, hes also got himself a Summer coaching gig with the Sussex Pathway kids starting this weekend, and has also been invited along to a 2nds training session. Nice to see hes not completely off the radar yet.

That's good to hear. With Sussex's ever expanding injury list, they could find themselves short of a few bowlers soon. Hope it goes well for him

 

[Fignon's Ponytail]

That's good to hear. With Sussex's ever expanding injury list, they could find themselves short of a few bowlers soon. Hope it goes well for him

Thanks mate. Under no illusion that anything will come of it, but if he can pick up a few 2nds games, stay in their sights, and get paid for it, he will be happy.
Hes really looking forward to coaching the pathway though, having been through it all himself.

 

[Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo]

While we were all at the Amex shouting rude words at another inept refereeing performance the boy was playing his first development game of the season (30 overs a side).

His team consisted of three adults and 8 teenagers including a lad making his hardball debut. The other team were a first XI from a local village and all adults so it was going to be a tough test.

They lost the toss and the other team elected to bat so the boy donned the gloves and took his place behind the wicket. Immediate success when we took a wicket with the second ball. However that was a brief highlight in a tough opening 15 or so overs. The next two batsman both reached their half centuries and retired not out. Quick success after that as our debutant took a wicket in a great bowling display from such a young fella. In the end they finished on 171/3 so a tough target but not out of reach.

Our innings started with the boy opening (batting 2 this time rather than 1 as he had been over the winter) and he’d quickly hit 10 off 13 to leave us 11/0 from 3 overs. Unfortunately three overs later 11/0 had become 11/4 as the boy saw 4 wickets fall while he was stood at the non strikers end. He batted sensibly though and slowed down his run rate picking off runs when he could before the next wicket fell leaving them 25/5.

Thankfully a bowling change meant they could more attacking and the boy and his partner put on 51 runs for the 6th wicket before he eventually got caught at mid wicket for 34 off 45 balls.

The rally continued and eventually the 30 overs were complete at 133/9, so a 38 run defeat but a decent effort from 11/4 for a young team (2 of the players out in that run were adults too). The top two scorers were my lad and his 6th wicket partner who scored 33 who are 14 and 17 respectively.

Feedback from the captain and coaches were how well the boy batted, showing maturity he hasn’t shown before and not trying to hit everything for a boundary. Great shot selection and sensible calls on when to run/not run to his batting partner.

Hopefully he will be playing his first second XI cricket of the season this coming weekend with lots of positives to take from this performance.

 

[ACobweb]

Had my first game of the season on Saturday... bowled for a second ball duck, then sent down a wide and a double-bouncer no ball in my only over - the only way is up!

 

[Sid and the Sharknados]

Had my first game of the season on Saturday... bowled for a second ball duck, then sent down a wide and a double-bouncer no ball in my only over - the only way is up!

If there's one thing I've learnt playing cricket, it's that it's always possible to bowl a worse over.

 

[Fignon's Ponytail]

Tough start for Roffey vs Horsham in a T20 comp, on Saturday. Slow going for Frankie too, but he did bowl out his "relative of sorts", Bertie Foreman, so that raised a smile or two.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Big win our first game of the season, on Saturday.

Ampfield 328/4 (45 overs)
Hythe & Dibden 236 a/o (42)

No wickets personally, but reeled of a full 9 at tidy run rate, and got through the first game relatively pain free - as good as could be hoped.

Full 24 points, and top of the league (by virtue of having a name that starts with an A…)