The new cricket season is now only a few days away. What awaits cricket lovers this summer in Fenland?
To find out more, in a series of interviews, Stephen Wallis contacted some of the leading cricketers in the area beginning with the experienced Wisbech Town Cricket Club captain James Williams.
Away from the action at Harecroft Road James is Head of the Male Performance Pathway and Emerging Players Programme Lead for Cambridgeshire Cricket.
Before I ask you about the new season how do you now reflect, six months after, on last season’s relegation for the East Anglian Premier League?
It is still a little bit raw to us, I think we played some really good cricket last season, but just not for long enough periods.
We have a talented group of players, and we just lacked that killer instinct to finish off tough/tight games.
How have preparations been going since last September?
Preparations are going well; we have been training since mid-January, so we are ready to get going when it stops raining.
What’s news on the playing front? Have you managed to keep the bulk of your squad and added to the line-up?
It has been encouraging that the squad have stayed together. I was cautious that some players would move on, but it is encouraging that our players are loyal and want to stay at the club and do well for Wisbech.
We have a great buzz in the group, and we have all been a part of this team for a long time. We are all local lads pretty much and we all love playing as a group together.
Who do you think will be the key players in 2024?
I think we have moved away over the last few years of only relying on a couple of people to score runs or take wickets.
Anyone on the team can win us games of cricket and I think that’s an important thing to have in a squad.
The club has a new vice-captain in Josh Porter. As an experienced skipper how much are you looking forward to working with him both on and off the field?
Yeah, Josh has a really good cricket brain and understands the game. I want to get him involved in that leadership role and learn even more if possible.
I’m certainly not getting any younger and we have to start succession planning and I think Josh will be a great vice-captain.
How pleased are you to see Ryan Clark return from Australia for his third season at the club?
It’s great to have Ryan back for his 3rd year with us. He is a great addition to the team on and off the pitch but more importantly he’s part of the family now and we’re looking forward to getting him back over.
Are you confident that the team won’t relax this term playing at a lower standard in the Cambs and Hunts Premier League and can you see in net practice that there is still the desire to return to the East Anglian Premier League?
Absolutely, we all enjoyed it last season, we had some tough days but we had some really good days as well so we know we can compete at that level.
Is promotion in the first-year imperative for the club?
I don’t think so, I think the most important thing for us, is that we keep offering the best opportunities for our senior and junior members. As long as we continue to be a strong club off the field, then naturally success will come on the pitch as well.
Which clubs do you think will be your main rivals?
There are some strong teams this year by the looks of it, Ramsey, Foxton, Eaton Socon and St Giles all look to have recruited well over the winter.
How many other sides are the club fielding this season?
We will be running four adult Saturday teams and two Sunday teams, as well as three junior mid-week teams. We are also currently trying to build our women and girls section.
How as a club do you keep promoting the game of cricket?
We want to make our club accessible to as many people as possible and showcase what the game of cricket can do for people. Our Friday night Paul Strickle League has brought new faces into the club and into our senior teams, our junior section is continuing to grow, and we are now seeing those players filter into the Saturday and Sunday teams.
We know the game of cricket can be costly and that is why we have held our costs the same as 2023 because we don’t want to put barriers in front of people.
What are your thoughts on England’s recent 4-1 series defeat to India?
India is a tough place to go but I thought there were some encouraging signs there with the young spinners they took.
Ultimately, they realised that sometimes Bazball needs to take a back seat and ride out some of the tougher times in test cricket and wait for the right moments.
As an ageing bowler yourself, how much do you recognise Jimmy Anderson’s achievement of taking 700 Test match wickets?
An incredible achievement! The longevity he has had as a seamer playing so many test matches is incredible! I don’t think we will ever see it again in Test cricket.
Finally, you go again in 2024, how many seasons is it for you now? A bit of bowling this season for you?
I started playing cricket when I was 11 back in 1996!! I joined WTCC in 2000 and have played in the 1st XI since then! I don’t think the bowling boots will be coming out this year! I haven’t bowled since 2017 since my last shoulder operation.
Wisbech is hoping to begin its 2024 season with the prestigious annual two-day match against the MCC, weather permitting, on Wednesday and Thursday, April 3 and 4 with an 11am start each day.
Two away Saturday friendlies then follow against Downham Stow (April 6) and Mildenhall (April 13) before their opening Cambs and Hunts Premier League match at Harecroft Road against Burwell and Exning on April 20.
