NCL PREVIEW & FIXTURES: Skipper Hafil happy to be back in action as ONs eye title challenge

A few weeks ago it seemed as though the 2020 recreational cricket summer would be a complete write-off thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The noises coming from the Government, and Prime Minister Boris Johnson in particular, were negative and many local players will have been resigned to the fact there would be no cricket played this summer.

But a change of heart from the powers-that-be, brought on by some high-profile campaigns led by the likes of former England captain Michael Vaughan, and repeated pleas from the England & Wales Cricket Board, saw a big u-turn and cricket was given the green light.

The sport was allowed to be played from July 11, which saw teams hastily arranging friendly matches last weekend, with the Northants Cricket League also reacting very quickly to organise a truncated campaign over 12 divisions starting this Saturday.

And that is great news for cricketers, with ONs skipper Hafil admitting it’s a relief there will be a meaningful season played over the next 10 weeks or so.

“I had kind of written things off, but in a couple of weeks it all changed pretty quickly and I think the league has done well to get a season together, and some competitive cricket going,” said Hafil.

“I was thinking the only way they might get some cricket in is for them to say you are free to arrange your own friendlies, and I wouldn’t have been overly keen on that.

“Everybody is more interested in playing competitive cricket with some kind of league structure, and we are all pretty chuffed to be back out there.”

Although there won’t be any promotion or relegation this season, there are still divisional titles to be won, and Hafil is keen for ONs to compete for the premier division crown.

There will be seven league matches played in each division to determine the top eight that will go into the play-offs, and Hafil hopes the ONs can be contenders.

“If we won it then it wouldn’t feel anywhere near as satisfying as if it had been won over a whole campaign,” he admitted. “But you still want to go out and win it, and it would still feel good to do so.

“But if we instil it into our players that we really want to win this competition, then we will enjoy it more because we will be playing more competitively and winning games, rather than not taking it too seriously.”

The home clash with Brixworth on Saturday will be played at Northampton School for Boys, with the main track at the ONs being out of action.

Due to the pandemic, the club’s playing field remains set up for rugby and football, meaning the cricketers are moving a few hundred yards across Billing Road.

ONs warmed up for the Brixworth date with a nine-run friendly win over Banbury last Saturday.

The ONs have a full-strength squad to pick from, including key pair Rob White and Richard Kaufman, but Hafil admits he doesn’t really know what to expect from Brixworth, or any of the clubs this summer.

“Nobody knows what types of squads clubs are going to have, because some people might still feel uncomfortable playing, because of Covid,” he said.

“Other clubs who might have planned on having an overseas player won’t, so they may a bit weaker.

“So to be honest, I have no idea what sort of team Brixworth are going to put out! But it is still a game we would hope to win if we play to our best.”

All league matches are to be straight win or lose 40-over contests, and will start at 11am, something that Hafil approves of.

“I think everybody is pretty happy about that, and it will be interesting to get everybody’s views on it at the end of the season,” he said.”

“You are always going to get people wanting different things, but I think most people are excited by the prospect of finishing playing at 4.30pm!”

Elsewhere in the premier division, newly-promoted Overstone Park face a daunting first game back in the top flight as they host 2019 league champions Peterborough.

Horton House are on the road as they go to Desborough, while the other games see Geddington host Finedon Dolben and Rushden & Higham host Oundle.

There are only 10 teams in the top flight, with Saints having dropped out.

The Birchfield Road East club’s first team now plays in division three, and will start the season with a trip to Brixworth IIs.

Brigstock’s first team have also decided not to partake in the top flight this season

FIXTURES

NORTHANTS CRICKET LEAGUE

Saturday, July 18

Premier Division: Desborough v Horton House, Geddington v Finedon Dolben, Old Northamptonians v Brixworth, Overstone Park v Peterborough, Rushden & Higham v Oundle.

Division One: Finedon Dolben IIs v St Crispin & Ryelands, Haddon v Wollaston, Kislingbury v Burton Latimer, Loddington & Mawsley v Weekley & Warkton, Stony Stratford v Irthlingborough, Wellingborough Town v Old Northamptonians IIs.

Division Two: Heyford v Thrapston, Isham & Wellingborough Indians v Irchester, Kettering v Earls Barton, Peterborough IIs v Old, Rothwell v Old Grammarians, Weldon v Great Houghton.

Division Three: Bowden v Overstone Park IIs, Brixworth IIs v Northampton Saints, Old Northamptonians IIIs v Rushden & Higham IIs, Oundle IIs v Geddington IIs, Raunds v Podington, Wollaston IIs v Isham & Wellingborough Indians IIs.

Division Four: Burton Latimer IIs v Spencer Bruerne, Great Oakley v Stony Stratford IIs, Horton House IIs v Wellingborough Town IIs, Kempston Hammers v Bold Dragoon, S&L Corby v Harlestone, St Crispin & Ryelands IIs v Finedon Dolben IIIs.

Division Five: Bedford v Kettering IIs, Cogenhoe v Yelvertoft, Irthlingborough IIs v MK Air, Northampton Saints IIs v Bugbrooke, Rushton v Obelisk, Weekley & Warkton IIs v Loddington & Mawsley IIs.

Division Six: Mears Ashby v Rothwell IIs, Podington IIs v Geddington IIIs, Sun Hardingstone v Stony Stratford IIIs, Thrapston IIs v S&L Corby IIs, Willoughby v Bowden IIs.

Division Seven: Barton Seagrave v Isham & Wellingborough Indians IIIs, Brigstock IIs v Heyford IIs, Old IIs v Desborough IIs, Old Grammarians IIs v Dunchurch & Bilton, Overstone Park IIIs v Old Northamptonians IVs.

Division Eight: Geddington IVs v Haddon IIs, Great Houghton IIs v Abington Phoenix, Horton House IIIs v Cogenhoe IIs, Long Buckby IIs v Weldon IIs, MK Air IIs v Raunds IIs.

Division Nine: Bold Dragoon IIs v St Michaels, Burton Latimer IIIs v Braunston Paddox, Finedon Dolben IVs v Barby IIIs, Harlestone IIs v Kettering IIIs, Wellingborough Town IIIs v Brixworth IIIs, Wollaston IIIs v Grange Park.

Division 10: Bugbrooke IIs v Weekley & Warkton IIIs, Kettering IVs v Pytchley, Old IIIs v Barton Seagrave IIs, Spencer Bruerne IIs v Mears Ashby IIs, Stony Stratford IVs v Great Oakley IIs, Thrapston IIIs v Rushden & Higham IIIs.

Division 11: Braunston Paddox IIs v Willoughby IIs, Brixworth IVs v Haddon IIIs, Dunchurch & Bilton IIs v S&L Corby IIIs, Heyford IIIs v Kettering Vs, Stony Stratford Vs v Burton Latimer IVs..