Season 2019 preview
By George Watson
Plans are
already in full swing for the new Victoria Park Community Cricket
League season, after a hugely successful 2018, which saw Arif
Ahmed's Millwall crowned champions for the first time and their
nearest rivals London Tigers picking up their debut cup title.
New entrants
left a fantastic mark on the evening mid-week league last season,
including the Australian side Expats led by James Burton who
finished second in Division 2, narrowly missing out on net run rate
alone. Their opening
batsmen Alex Hickson was the star player of the league,
picking up the best average and most runs of the season as he
takes over the reins of skipper for the new incoming season.
The season also celebrated its first centurion in over a
decade when Sanj Gunewardene struck 103 before being run out, his
efforts still in vain as Mile Tailenders fell short to eventual
league champions Millwall.
With teams
competing from across London and with its unique format of just
sixteen over per side, a maximum of four overs per bowler and
retiring at fifty, the eight-a side league is perfect for quick
evening matches under the Victoria Park sunshine between May and
August.
Some league teams
will be looking for extra players for the season. There are no restrictions about the
age or sex of players so all are welcome. (Those under eighteen are
required to wear helmets). With matches starting at Victoria Park
from the end of April and the country welcoming both a World Cup and
an Ashes in the same year, 2019 looks like an amazing year for
cricket. The Victoria Park Community Cricket League would like to
celebrate it with anyone who feels like loosening their batting,
bowling or fielding muscles once a week.
Victoria Park
Community Cricket League is also on Facebook.