The 2021 Cricketer Cup Final will be played at the iconic Arundel Castle ground on Sunday 8 August, play starting at 11.00. The final is between Oundle Rovers, who were losing finalists in 2019, and Old Millfieldians, who only joined the competition that year. Oundle Rovers have won the Cricketer Cup three times, the latest in 1989, and have been runners-up six times. Old Millfieldians have reached the final at the second time of asking, after being invited to join the Cricketer Cup following a successful record in the Cricketer Trophy.

Neither side has had an easy route to the final. Comfortable victories in the first round were followed by tough games for Oundle chasing a target from St. Edward’s Martyrs, and Millfield chasing down 289 at Marlborough. Oundle had to overcome past winners, Old Cranleighans, by 38 runs in the quarter-final and then a strong Eton Ramblers side in the semi-final. Millfield had to win a replayed match against Old Merchant Taylors, and then prevailed by 3 wickets against perennially strong opponents, Old Malvernians..

The Oundle team is captained by Greg Smith, professional cricketer at Leicestershire and Notts until 2017, who has a fine run-scoring record in the Cricketer Cup. Patrick Foster, Ben Graves and Simon Fernandes all represented Durham MCCU in first-class matches, and they have a good pair of off-spinners in Will Street and Harry Ramsden. All the team currently play strong club cricket as far apart as Brondesbury and Colwyn Bay, and they collectively have much Cricketer Cup experience, including a desire to improve on an uncharacteristically below par performance in the 2019 final against Old Tonbridgians.

Millfield is captained by Nick Brothers, who won 50 caps for Great Britain and England hockey, but has done so much to bring together Millfield cricketers into the enjoyable and competitive world of alumni cricket. They have a strong seam attack in Charlie Hartley, who played for Kent; Brad Currie from the Scotland T20 World Cup squad and Julius Sumerauer, who plays for Jersey. Their batting includes Harry Ellison, son of Richard, and Fin Trenouth, a former England U19 player. Jamie Baird, the wicket-keeper, has only recently left school but hit a match-winning 92 not out against Old Malvernians in the semi-final. The West Indian Test cricketer, Kieran Powell, played against OMTs but is unavailable for the final.

Everyone is welcome to come in and watch the final on a ground where cars can be parked around the boundary, picnics proliferate and hopefully a good game of cricket ensues in fine weather.