A view from the captains 2009

"Following a season of consolidation following relegation from Division One of the Birmingham League, the 1st XI are looking to mount a sustained challenge for promotion this year. The winter has proved tough with the losses of key players in the form of Julius Benjamin, Shaun Liebisch and Ateeq Javed. The committee have worked hard behind the scenes in the wake of new legislation making the recruitment of new players ever more difficult. So far we are delighted to have added Chris Whittock from Aldridge CC, Imran Jamiel from Dorridge CC, Hassan Ansari from Sutton Coldfield CC and Christi Viljoen, an exciting all round cricketer from Northerns in South Africa has joined up with us for the summer. The team is now taking shape, and with a couple more potential additions, to join up with stalwarts of the 1st XI Neal Prichard and Peter Evans, it is set up to be an exciting season at Church Road.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the great efforts of the Cricket Committee throughout the close season, and also to the continued support the General Committee has provided to take this club forward. The ground is in great shape, the best it has looked in years thanks to hard work from head groundsman Dave Betty and his team. A big thanks must also go to Tempus, our main sponsors, and Alan at the Tennis Courts Pub for their generous and greatly appreciated support.

Here's to a great summer's cricket, and look forward to our band of loyal spectators boysterous support!"

Peter Evans, 1st XI Captain


"Much like the 1st XI the 2nd XI has also lost several key players from last season, mainly due to work commitments but also as a result of players seeking new challenges. We have however been lucky in signing two quality 2nd team all rounders in Shahid Qureshi who has joined from Civil Service CC, and 18 year old Ricky Bassi from Bridge Trust Old Boys CC.

The main aim for the season though, as it was last year, is to continue to develop the young talent already within the club. Last season a considerable number of players aged 17 and below played 2nd XI cricket on merit, and the hope is that the trend will continue this season. There are already three young players who have established themselves in the side in Shaun Carroll, Nabeel Asghar and Arun Toora, and exams permitting hopefully this number will increase as the new season progresses.

Add in the virtual ever-presents from the previous few seasons Steve Evans, Abdul 'Rimmer' Rahim, Adam Rana and Steve Knowles and things again look promising. At the very least the 2nd XI should be able to match last seasons top half finish, but if the issue of inconsistency can be addressed then maybe sights can be set a little bit higher.

Finally I would like to echo Pete Evans thanks to Dave Betty (groundsman) who has continued to do an excellent job throughout the winter to ensure that the ground looks better than ever."

Steve Knowles, 2nd XI Captain

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