Nicholson Cricketer Cup Bye Round preview

The Nicholson Cricketer Cup begins its 2024 competition this Sunday 19 May with four bye round games. Particularly thrilled are the two new clubs in the competition, Old Hamptonians and Old Monmothians. The latter will welcome St Edward’s Martyrs to the scenic grounds of Monmouth School in Wales. They field a strong line-up, featuring a blend of youth and experience, notably Jeremy Lawlor former Glamorgan CCC player. Hamptonian will host Stowe Templar in south-west London. They are captained by Rob Bentley and include the core group who have won the Cricketer Trophy in the last two seasons, hoping that Middlesex seamer Toby Roland-Jones might become available for later rounds.

The other two games are at Eastbourne and Eton. Old Eastbournians, who were losing finalists in 2017, have not progressed far since then, but captain Ben Twine will be hoping that home advantage will bring success against Charterhouse Friars. The game at Eton is a heavyweight contest between the Ramblers and Oundle Rovers, both of them losing semi-finalists in 2023.