I get a bit twitchy at this time of year. Conflicted even.
On the one hand, it’s definitely a time to celebrate more light and longer days with Spring here and the prospect of club cricket around the corner.
Yet, there’s no disguising the fact that perhaps now I don’t play anymore, enthusiasm for watching the game outside in temperatures that would send arctic penguins scuttling for cover has a little less appeal.
Fair weather spectator? Guilty as charged.
The weather Gods like to toy with us in April here in Yorkshire but with the freak exception of 2022 when scorched pitches resembled crazy paving and the grass withered by May, it is generally wet.
Friendlies lined up
Fortunately, cricket clubs have no such qualms about getting outdoors at the earliest opportunity, weather permitting.
I asked on Twitter and Facebook for early season friendlies to get a feel for the boundless enthusiasm and our readers delivered in some style.
The first weeks of April see clubs across many leagues aiming to get some cricket in before points, promotion and relegation officially gets underway.
As I’ve already reported, groundskeepers face a race to be ready on time after a very wet winter.
In theory, Clifton Alliance were due to play Elsecar at home on 6 April but that’s been called off and they welcome Studley Royal on 13 April.
Doncaster Town head to Ossett on 7 April before taking on Cavaliers and Carrington at home on 13 April with the 2nd XI hosting Shelley the day after.
(🚨 All of this is with a huge pinch of salt, check with the clubs first before travelling, given the unpredictability of the weather and condition that grounds might still be in from winter. I’d expect many clubs to cancel fixtures.)
On 13 April, Sessay Emeralds are at home against University of York Women’s Cricket Club. It is the 10-year anniversary of the first Sessay Emeralds match.
On that same day, Woodhouse Grange have a friendly planned against Premier League opposition from the NYSD and head North.
The hosts are Stockton Cricket Club (midday start on 13th) who lost to Woodhouse Grange in the final over last year of the Royal London National Club Championship (Group 1 First Round).
Metronomes Cricket Club are in South Yorkshire at Higham on 21 April to play against a Yorkshire Disability XI.
So, a mere snapshot, lots more fixtures as clubs often get the chance to either travel or host clubs from leagues they’d not normally play, or opt for a local fixture for ease.
When do cricket leagues start?
In senior cricket, Bradford Premier League, NYSD, Yorkshire Cricket Southern Premier League and Yorkshire Premier League North ALL start at the same time – Saturday 20 April.
As do Aire-Wharfe Cricket League, Halifax Cricket League, Huddersfield Cricket League, Dales Council and the Craven Cricket League.
The Craven League plans to make a decision around 13-14 April.
They have proposed that if 50% of clubs can’t start then all fixtures scheduled for 20 April will be cancelled with each team taking 5pts. (This applies to the following week too).
The Scarborough Beckett Cricket League begin a week after on Saturday 27 April. While the Quaid E Azam Premier Cricket League kicks off on Sunday 28 April.
Lower divisions can (and often do) start earlier, i.e.) With 3rd XI are at home to Scholes & Harley 2nd XI on Saturday 13 April in Division 9 of the Yorkshire Cricket Southern Premier League.
Women and girls’ leagues
Sunday 21 April is when the bulk of the women and girls’ fixtures commence outdoors.
The Yorkshire Women & Girls Cricket League starts with a new Hundred competition on that Sunday in late April as nine teams battle it out from Clifton Park Cobras to Sheffield Collegiate Women.
The first Sunday sees two rounds of games on one day at either the Eco Power Oval (Doncaster Town) or Saxton.
The usual Premier League format begins in June with the six top sides in Yorkshire facing off over 40 overs-a-side: Wrenthorpe, Sessay, Saxton, Rockingham Colliery, Doncaster Town and Sheffield Collegiate.
Alongside that top tier, regional leagues are happening too.
West Yorkshire Women & Girls Cricket League begins on Sunday 21 April as Harrogate, Pudsey St Lawrence and Skipton host Bradford Park Avenue Ladies, Menston Women and Cricademia Academy respectively.
The South Yorkshire Women & Girls Cricket League has a five-team hardball contest for 2024 in Division 1. Anston, Hatfield Town, Oughtibridge, Tickhill and Wickedly Old Village are the teams.
The East Yorkshire Women & Girls’ Cricket League has two hardball divisions (Div 1 & 2) with 12 sides and Goole Town face Driffield Town on Sunday 21 April before matches a week later in Division 2.
Across all regions, there is a mountain of softball cricket and a shoutout for the Hambleton Women’s Outdoor Soft ball League who have East and West divisions that begin on Sunday 28 April.
I didn’t spot many mention of friendlies for women’s friendlies but they must exist although some fixtures across Yorkshire aren’t always plugged into Play-Cricket.
One I discovered that was sees St Chad’s Broomfield Women 1st XI welcoming Leeds Beckett University Women’s 1st XI; one of the shorter commutes for a game I’d imagine.
So, there you go… from Saturday 6 April onwards, games galore if pitches are ready and the rain holds off.
Like welcoming a friend you haven’t seen for a while, club cricket outdoors is back soon enough and it’s going to be fantastic. Just pack your thermals.
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Clifton Alliance vs Elsecar is now off due to the pre-season conditions. No great surprise there