THE cricket season for clubs around the Isle of Wight is due to get underway — but it is a battle against time to prepare teams and get soggy pitches playable.
Ventnor’s first team are set to play their first game of the campaign, in Division 1 of the Southern Premier Cricket League, against last season's Division 2 champions, Waterlooville, at Steephill on Saturday, starting at 12.30pm.
Despite a non-existent pre-season, the group have rallied well and made great use of their own excellent training facilities to give themselves the best chance of preparing for their opening fixture.
Of course, the match is weather permitting.
"It would be great to see the banks at Steephill full of supporters once the sun comes out — and before our groundsman gives up and grows rice crops instead," joked fixtures secretary, Graeme Burnett.
All-rounders, Dan Cox and George Watts — players with masses of experience at this level — have joined the club, with Dineth Thimodya, Ventnor's Sri Lankan overseas player, back for a third season.
"The squad has a great mix of youth and experience, who will no doubt play some exciting cricket," added Graeme.
The following Saturday, May 11, sees the start of the Hampshire and Island Leagues.
Ryde will be aiming for better than their 14th place finish last year in Division 1 of the Hampshire League.
They start their season at home to Compton and Chandlers Ford, at Harding Shute, but like Ventnor, the weather has scuppered their pre-season plans.
First team skipper, Ash Goldsmith, said: "Continuing our decent 2023 home form will be vital, though it would be nice to win an away game or two this season!"
With the Hampshire League potentially changing to ten-team divisions next year, it is unclear which teams will end up where after this summer.
Following Cowes dropping out of Island League cricket, Ryde will benefit from their talented batsman Jack Summers playing more games for them, together with wicketkeeper George Griffiths, recruited from Northwood.
"There will be opportunities for some of our younger players to shine, in both our firsts and seconds. We are excited to see what they can achieve this season," Ash adds.
With availability issues for the club this season, Ryde will not be fielding a third team in the Island League, with the seconds playing in Hampshire 4 (South), captained by Geoff Kite.
Their first match will be away at Solent Rangers.
The groundstaff at Shanklin and Godshill Cricket Club have been working hard to prepare the ground for the start of the season, but continuous rain has resulted in no pre-season warm-up games have been played at Westhill so far.
Their opening league match in Division 3 (South) sees them play host to Portsmouth and Southsea seconds.
Last season the club finished mid-table, but club captain, Benji White, is hopeful the team will press for promotion this time around.
"The team has been training weekly during the winter, as a slow start last year proved too big a handicap for us," said Benji.
Ventnor seconds join them in the division, buoyed by their promotion from Division 4 (South) last year. They will face Ellingham, at Steephill.
Shanklin will be fielding a third Saturday team for the first time in its 150-year history, with the seconds and thirds playing in the Island League.
"The third team will be a mixture of senior and youth players, with a function to introduce juniors to a longer form of cricket and help with their development as senior cricketers of the future," said club spokesperson, Guy de Belder.
The Isle of Wight Cricket Board will be using Westhill to host several county matches at U14, over-50 and disability levels, as well as its annual match against the MCC, on July 1.
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