Edgware making up for lost time ahead of 2021 season

2020 was a frustrating and worrying time for everyone in the UK as the Coronavirus pandemic swept throughout Europe and the rest of the world. One of the many casualties of COVID-19 was cricket, with most clubs not getting onto the field until at least early July. This meant that leagues were postponed, tours were cancelled and all round good times were put on hold in the interests of public safety. However, as we head into spring 2021 there certainly appears to be light at the end of the tunnel for the cricket fraternity who have spent an extremely dark and dreary winter indoors.

In late February, the government road mapped the return to normality which includes the restart of outdoor organised sport from 29 March. Whilst cricketers still await the ECB's formal guidance, it is presumed that cricket will fall under this remit and therefore, the cricket season can start in earnest in April.

Late last week Edgware Cricket Club announced their 2021 fixture list which includes no less than 34 fixtures and features exciting tours of Liverpool and Malta. The sheer number of games is driven by Edgware's ever expanding player base which now form three distinct XIs, the First XI, Second XI and T20 XI. Whilst the First XI is scheduled to play 19 fixtures in 2021, the Second XI and T20 XI programmes have been expanded to five and four fixtures respectively. In addition, Edgware's Tour XI will play 5 fixtures in Liverpool and Malta and the annual inter-club fixture completes a busy summer for Edgware Cricket Club with the inaugural India v ROW taking place in April.

"I think we're attempting to make up for lost time a little this year. 2020 was clearly a challenging year for many reasons and we lost a lot of cricket. The loss of the Australia tour was particularly painful for a lot of the guys as it felt in many ways like a once in a lifetime opportunity which has now passed us by. Despite this, we've got some exciting things planned for this year and next and I think everyone is looking forward to getting back onto the pitch and rediscovering the great game that is cricket" Spoke club chairman, Ciaran Hosty at the virtual fixture launch press conference.

Well I for one am incredibly excited for the 2021 season which is now just a tick over 40 days away. I'm wishing the boys the best of luck this year and of course success in the Chess Valley League Division 3! Come on you boys in blue!