It's here at last - Preview of the Cricketer Cup First round on 13 June

Sixteen matches in the first round of the Cricketer Cup take place on Sunday on grounds as far removed as Eastbourne and Ampleforth. After 52 years of the competition, the pandemic put paid to the 2020 Cricketer Cup, so the 2021 competition is eagerly anticipated by players and supporters alike.

The holders, Old Tonbridgians, have a potentially tricky match at Hurstpierpoint, which has been producing a string of good young players for Sussex. Tonbridge are missing Marcus O’Riordan, now contracted to Kent, but have eight of their winning team available. 2019 finalists, Oundle Rovers, host Charterhouse Friars, teams lying fourth and fifth in the historic merit table of the competition. Former Nottinghamshire batsman, Greg Smith, again captains the Rovers.

Newcomers, Lancing Rovers, fresh from a massive victory in the bye round, host Old Millfieldians, themselves relative newcomers and looking to post their first win, while Eton Ramblers travel all the way to Ampleforth, whose headmaster, Robin Dyer, captained the Old Wellingtonians to their first trophy in 1995.

Old Malvernians, second to Old Tonbridgians in the merit table, take on Old Bedfordians, twice recent semi-finalists. Malvern recall Jonathan Wileman, the former Notts batsman, who first played in the Cricketer Cup in 1989 and last appeared in the competition in 2014. He has been appearing for England Over 50s. Could Sir Alastair Cook make his first appearance for Old Bedfordians, now that the County Championship has made way for the T20 Blast?

By Sunday evening, weather permitting, the field will have been whittled down to sixteen teams all hoping to make the final at Arundel Castle on Sunday 8 August. Full details of the results should be available early next week.

DRW