Cumbria are due to open their 2024 campaign against Northumberland tomorrow with two matches in the NCCA Twenty-20 Cup at Roseworth Terrace, Gosforth.
The home of the South Northumberland club will stage the matches which are scheduled to start at 11am and 2.30pm.
Like Cumbria, Northumberland have had their pre-season cancelled due to the weather, with Northumberland’s most recent match against Durham CCC Seconds due to be played at South Northumberland CC this week being cancelled the day before it was scheduled to start.
Assuming the matches go ahead (and the forecast isn’t brilliant) these games will represent a first outing in 2024 for both Counties.
The equivalent games last year were abandoned due to the weather. In 2023, when the matches were also played at South North CC, Cumbria won both encounters. Whilst the two teams first faced each other in the Minor Counties Championship in 1955, in T20 matches the two counties have played each other just eight times with Cumbria winning 4, Northumberland 2 and 2 being abandoned.
Not surprisngly, the Northumberland team announcement contains many familiar faces not least Jacques Du Toit who returns as Northumberland’s pro this year after last playing NCCA cricket for Cumbria in 2022.
Jacques adds a wealth of experience to the squad having played 41 first class matches for Easterns and Leicestershire between 1999 and 2012. England U19 caps Ross Whitfield and Harry Crawshaw continue their careers with Northumberland after being released by Durham CCC over the winter.
George Darwood will be playing for Durham Seconds this season whilst Calum Fletcher was the joint leading wicket taker in the NCCA One Day Cup last year and has been playing for Bradford/Leeds UCCE this season.
Captain Oli McGee, Alasdair Appleby and John Oswell need no introduction having often played against Cumbria most recently when the latter more or less single handedly ensured Northumberland beat Cumbria in the Durant 3 day Championship last year with 78 from 36 balls at Edenside. Keeper Chris Youldon returns to County action for the first time since 2016.
The Cumbria squad includes three players possibly in line for debuts for the County; Steven Croft and Harry Singh have both signed on dual registrations with Lancashire CCC and Ben Barrow who has previously been named to play for Cumbria but is yet to make his County debut.
Croft, Singh and Ed Moulton are the three permitted players who do not fulfill the NCCA eligibility as being either born, educated or playing for a club within the County.
Steven Croft and Harry Singh represent two players at the opposite ends of their careers. Croft at 39 years of age made his Lancashire debut in 2005 has now retired from first class cricket. He has now joined the Lancashire coaching staff whilst maintaining a playing contract just for their T20 campaign.
Across all formats he has played almost 600 matches for his county of birth. Singh (19 years old) is in his second year as a professional player with Lancashire. He has yet to play for their first team except against Cumbria at Sedbergh School in last year’s showcase game. He has played four international games for England Under-19’s with a top score of 104.
Cumbria captain Maichael Slack said: “Over recent years we have shone at the 50-overs format but not so much the T20’s.
“I think we might be in a stronger position this time as we have a few all-rounders in the squad who are often the key to success at this format.
“Of course the introduction of Steven Croft is going to be valuable as his experience should be a major factor for us. We are also looking forward to seeing young Harry Singh continue his development with us.
“I hope we can continue our success in the Trophy 50 overs competition and when the Championship arrives towards the end of the season things have often changed a bit, but I hope we can be competitive.”
The squads are:
- Northumberland: Oliver McGee (South North) capt, Alasdair Appleby (Darlington RA), John Oswell (Burnopfield), Ross Whitfield (Sunderland), Jacques du Toit (Newcastle), Mohsin Mukhtar (Benwell Hill), Chris Youldon (Sunderland) wk, Harry Crawshaw (Hartlepool), Sean Tindale (South North), George Darwood (Newcastle), Calum Fletcher (South North) and Max Williamson (Benwell Hill)
- Cumbria: Freddie Fallows (Kendal), Sam Dutton (Kendal), Steven Croft (Lancashire and Blackpool), Harry Singh (Lancashire and Urmston), Matthew Sempill (Cockermouth), Michael Slack (Carlisle, capt), Ben Barrow (Netherfield), Greg Cameron (Keswick), Nico Watt (Carlisle), Finlay Richardson (Kendal, wk), Ed Moulton (Chorley), Sam Sharp (Kendal).
