Cumbria county cricket will have a new pool of professionals playing for them in the 2024 season across the three competitions.
A new relationship with Lancashire CCC has led to two of their current players being signed on dual registration.
In addition Cumbria have been approached by two players from Yorkshire CCC and one, a batsman is already signed on, and the county is hoping to complete the signing of the other shortly.
These will complement Cumbria’s existing signed-on players from out of the county and give the selection panels a headache as they choose teams for the T20, 50-Over competition and the National Counties Championship.
Cumbria players have had a successful indoor winter programme with three sessions before Christmas and 12 sessions afterwards.
These have given the players, who are not abroad for the winter, the opportunity to work on red and white ball skills. Attendance has been high, with attention to detail and willingness to learn very impressive indeed.
New local senior players have joined the winter training group who will up for selection in the summer, as well as new, young local players being added to the group.
A pre-season day at the Racecourse on Sunday April 14 will see Cumbria play two T20 matches against the Durham UCCE team.
Certainly Cumbria will be hoping to enjoy much better luck with the weather than last year when the majority of their T20 games were washed out.
Cumbria’s Development team programme for this summer is much more fit for purpose and as part of this, the county is progressing new links with Lancashire CCC and Durham CCC further.
The development team programme is:
- April 26 (T20 double header) vs Durham Academy at Sedbergh School 1pm start; and vs Sedbergh School 5pm start
- May 15 (50 overs per side) vs Lancashire Academy Under 18s at Carnforth CC 11am start
- May 28 (50 overs per side) vs Northumberland Development Team away 11am start
- July 11 (50 overs per side) vs Wales NC North at Carnforth CC 11am start
- July 17-18 (2 day match) vs Northumberland Development Team at Penrith CC 11am start
On the fundraising side of things, a golf day is planned in Barrow on Wednesday April 17, still with two team places available.
A second golf day is planned for the north of the county for early June as well as a new grand draw.
Also recommended is the county’s latest annual yearbook which is on sale for £5.
Edited by Chris Gore and fully illustrated it continues the high standards he has set in previous publications, covering everything there is to learn about Cumbria’s 2023 season and much more.
