"Balance between senior players, development players and youth key for successful season"

Edgware Cricket Club have today announced the extended programme for the Sunday 2nd XI ahead of the 2021 season. The Sunday 2nd XI will play five fixtures in 2021 starting off against Old Merchant Taylors 2nd XI on Monday 31 May before playing the Mill Hill Village Development XI, St Anne's All Stars, Belmont & Edgware 2s and London Maccabi Vale 2s.

Captaining the 2nd XI in 2021 will be Dharmish Bhatt, who in 2020 was able to maintain a 100% winning record as the 2nd XI beat Mill Hill Village and Belmont & Edgware 2s. I was lucky to catch up with Dharmish via Zoom to discuss his outlook for the season.

Stephen Poopenshaft [SP]: Dharmish, you had a terrific start to your captaincy career last season, are you excited by the challenge of captaining the 2s in 2021?

Dharmish Bhatt [DB]: From the first day I stepped onto the field for Edgware in 2015, I never thought that we would be where we are as a club now. To be part of our relatively short history which has already seen some great wins, two league promotions and almost 50 players representing the club, has been a great honour. To be given the role of 2nd XI captain is both a huge honour and responsibility, one which I won't take lightly. I know what wearing the Edgware badge means to the legends and fans of our club and I hope our 2nd XI will be able to replicate the success that our 1st XI has brought us.

[SP]: How do you think the 2s will benefit the club?

[DB]: As seen from our brief but successful debut season in 2020, the 2s will be used to give opportunities to those who may not be able to regularly turn out for the 1st XI/ I hope that with the appropriate training and experience we will be able to produce cricketers that can walk into the 1st XI and perform when required. A good balance between senior players, development players and youth will be key for the 2s and hopefully we'll be able to continue our unbeaten record into the new year and beyond.

[SP]: That's great Dharmish and finally, what do you see as your main aims for 2021?

[DB]: I think our main aim this season is to keep providing opportunities. This may include giving opportunities to batsmen who want to improve their bowling or similarly, bowlers who want to improve their batting. The 2s can hopefully give opportunities to players to bat higher or bowl more overs than would be possible in the first XI. I think it's a great opportunity for players to sharpen their skills in fixtures against opposition who are at a marginally lower level. I hope the 2s will be able to experience a range of match scenarios that will help improve their game awareness and teach players how to go about their game when faced with different match conditions.