Season Preview 2023
The 2023 cricket season has finally arrived. Here is a rundown of what our teams are looking to achieve this year.
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The 1st team, now playing at (theoretically) the highest level of cricket the club have ever played at, will be looking to impress in Division 1 West of the Yorkshire Premier League North. With the YPLN restructuring their divisions for 2023, there are 7 teams in our division of 12 that were in Division 2 in 2023. This will be encouraging for a team that only lost 4 games in division 2 last year, however, captain Benjamin Busby will be cautious of being overly optimistic due an ever-changing side will cause the 1st team captain to look down the club for players to stand up to move into the team. They play their first game against fellow promotees, Bilton in Ainsty on 22nd April. Follow the league table here.
Here’s what Benji Busby had to say about the upcoming season:
It was another fantastic season for the 1sts last year with another promotion achieved. However, a new challenge awaits in Division 1 , which will be the highest standard of cricket Ovington has ever played. We have managed to keep the core squad together for the upcoming season with minimal loses which should put us in good stead. Thomas Cookson will be one of our key players again this season with both bat and ball. Charlie Buckley will be another key player to watch with the bat and in the field with Dominic Kitching being the figure head of our bowling attack. Our main challenge will come from the unfortunate events that have meant our new home will be away from the mire in the form of Crayke. We will however, look to overcome this problem and continue in the results business in 2023.
Benji Busby
Our 2nd team, competing in the York Vale Cricket League Division 1, for the 6th year, will he hoping to build on a promising end to the previous season, finishing 4th in a division of 9. With 2 teams that finished above them last year having moved on to the YPLN; captain Luke Smith, will be hopeful that his team could challenge at the upper end of the table. The side will once again have a mixture of a youngsters and seasoned veterans in their ranks. Follow the 2nds league position throughout the year here.
Here are Luke Smith’s thoughts on the upcoming season:
The LSBA will be looking to improve on last seasons best ever 2nd team finish in the York Vale League where we finished 4th in division 1. This season will be a very short season with the league deciding not to promote a team who have won every game in the division below last season, and instead have 8 teams in division 1 meaning we only have 14 league games arranged before any weather issues or teams crying off because they are too scared to face the might of the Kong’s army. Harry Buckley is a player to watch with the bat this year after his continued improvement over the 2022 season led to his maiden century in the last game. New to the bowling attack this year is junior leg-spinner Noah Goforth, Noah is a very exciting prospect for the club and I believe this season he will claim many wickets with his spin bowling which turns a country mile! Also, if Richard Buckley and Simon Rogerson bowl anything like they did last season I’m going to have to buy the opposition some WD-40 for their scoreboards! The LSBA will be targeting a league title this year and a much needed promotion to the senior league.
Luke Smith
Dave Warner will be leading the 3rd team as the new captain of the side (not that Dave Warner). They will, once again, be competing in the York Vale Cricket League Division 2. The goal for the season will be to integrate young players into our senior set-up, while being competitive in their division. Follow along their progress here.
Here’s what Dave Warner’s aims for the season are:
Have fun, drink Guinness.
Dave Warner
Ovington Fantasy Cricket has returned for 2023. Details can be found here.
Our junior section will be fielding 7 teams across all age groups from U9s to U15s. Updates to come throughout the season.
Best of luck to all teams for the upcoming year.