Are all groundsmen like farmers
SBCC have a full weekend of fixtures; with hopefully a long overdue glimpse of the sun. The over-riding feature of this week is that our sides are playing on some super grounds; the seconds and thirds are at home at our superb grounds at Spicers and Babraham respectively; the first’s travel to Sudbury to their lovely little ground and the fourths travel up the mountains to another picture-perfect ground at Elmdon. All the Groundsmen are now wishing for some sun after a number of weeks performing the rain dance!
The first team travel into Suffolk with Miguel Machado, stepping up from the seconds and saving himself a few miles in the process, and Atharv Yadav makes his debut. Atharv is a cricket mad Indian who is holidaying in the UK and wants to experience some cricket in England. They come in for unavailable Jack Beaumont and Charlie Lewis. The Rams will be looking to build on their success in the red ball game. The Rams were frustrated by the weather and some stubborn late order batting in the red ball contest last year after posting another massive total (386 for 7). An Adam Jones ton also saw the Suffolk side to their first ever victory over the Rams in the pink ball game.
Sudbury after a couple of quiet years had a resurgent campaign in 2025; finishing fifth but only eighteen points adrift of second place. A big part of their success last year was the form with the bat of Adam Jones and overseas Manelker De Silva; it was always going to be difficult to replace the two thousand four hundred runs these two scored. They currently sit second bottom, but with a draw and an abandoned draw in the last two matches they at least have something to build on. New recruit Madhuka Liyanapathiranage has not yet hit the heights of last year’s leading batters but has contributed just over two hundred runs at an average of above forty; and leads the way with the ball with ten wickets. The Suffolk side still retain the services of the reliable Darren Batch, just behind the new guy in the standings. A look at their stats show that they still have the backbone of the 2025 squad with the likes of Ned Overbury, Ben Parker, Ben Reece, Bobby East and Patrick Sadler all still at Friars Street. Seamer Freddie Cloud, a member of Suffolk’s T20 squad who played at Spicers, is a relatively new addition.
Elsewhere in the AVL EAPL bottom side Frinton make the trip to unbeaten leaders Horsford. Second placed Swardeston host AB Wanderers in a Norfolk derby, with the visitors hoping to exorcise last week’s disappointing defeat. Third placed Mildenhall visit Witham; Copdock host Bury in the Suffolk derby and Ramsey host Downham Stow in the game between last week’s only winners!
The second team with Julius Jackson at the helm face Histon at Spicers with the Rams still looking for that elusive first win. Their opponents are in an unusually low position in the Onyx Premier League sitting just two places above the Rams. They still possess some match winning cricketers and much of last year’s squad who were in contention for the title for a large part of the season. Jackson will be pleased to have retained the services of Dylan Hardy and leading batter and bowler Vibhor Yadav; he welcomes back Adi Datta, Arya Saeb-Parsy to increase the bowling options and Ari Sen to boost the batting.
The thirds who are also in the hunt for their first win of the season, after a couple of close calls, welcome near neighbours Chesterfords to Babraham. Skipper Jake Ellis, as is usual with third and fourth team cricket, makes a number of changes. In come father and son Faheem Noushad and Muhammad Khan after some excellent displays for the fourths. Jon Windsor replaces the experienced Gary Ellis. He will hope that youngster Dhrona doesn’t get run out without facing this week and that Sam Ronco can repeat his seasonal debut form this week. The visitors have three wins and two defeats on their record and sit three places and thirty-four points ahead of the Rams. Jake Noble and Jack Morland lead the way with bat with Ross Laird leading the bowlers. Jake Ellis remains in Division 1s’ top ten with both bat and ball.
The fourth team make the trip into the hills to face Elmdon, their hosts are two places above the Rams but only four points ahead having played one game more. They have two wins from five completed games. Umair Khan and Seb Tharby lead the way with the bat and Kartik Kathuria with the ball; although he trails the Ram’s and the division’s top wicket taker Adrian Platt by three wickets. Skipper Dom Cameron will hope that Nathanael Vice’s superb transition into adult cricket can continue for another week. The Rams will need to make sure that they get Elmdon danger man Alistair Davidson early; if only to spare me and the others from an ear bashing from a regular visitor to Spicers!
The Third team have a tricky looking tie at home to Senior league Girton in the Walker Cup T20 competition on Sunday afternoon (14.00 start).
The Club is also playing host to Cambridgeshire’s U-15 side when they face Cricket East (Beds and Hunts) on Sunday. Sawston youngster Ethan Hayes-Fernandez is expected to keep wicket and open the batting for a talented and in-form side looking for a fifth successive victory. Well worth a visit!