Welcome to Wizzy News – our regular weekly roundup of news and events at Wisborough Green Cricket Club.
Message from our Head of Junior Cricket
Welcome back to all the junior players and their parents and carers. It was a wonderful sight last Friday to see all of you back on the green, the players training hard and the adults socialising well. All is as it should be……
I would like to thank all our volunteer coaches, administrators and helpers for making this all happen. It takes a great deal of effort to bring this all together and the time you give makes a huge difference to the boys and girls who play at this club.
We are always on the look out for more volunteers so if you would like to help please do let one of the age-group coaches or administrators know. The club would be happy to put you through a coaching or umpiring course, and we can give help on learning how to score. On match days there are many jobs to organise, and many hands make light work.
The main aim of all the junior volunteers and committee members is to create an enjoyable and inclusive environment for our junior players and provide indelible memories that spark a lifelong interest in this sport.
Thank you in advance for all of your help this season as we all, players and parents alike, become joint custodians of something that is so much bigger than any one of us and whose values we will endeavour to uphold.
Phil Maggs – Head of Junior cricket
Honours Boards
Every week we recognise some noteworthy performances by our players and this week is no exception. Top of the list is a fantastic performance by our former President and Chair Steve Calder Smith who hit good form with the bat for the Sussex over 60 team against Middlesex over 60’s. Click on the following link for the full scorecard : https://sussexover50.play-cricket.com/website/results/7304002 . On Saturday Steve notched his first half century of the season for the club in the game against Littlehampton. That’s 154 runs in one week. Well done Steve 👏👏👏
Congratulations to all the players who appear on the board this week
Friday night training
Always good to have the professionals looking after the BBQ on a Friday evening – thank you George Vasadi
Friday nights wouldn’t be the same without the ice cream van – a highlight of the evening for many – not only the children ..
Parking
Parking along the Kirdford road remains an issue for us during Friday night training. Last year an ambulance was unable to get through and had to drive across a section of the green to reach a sick patient in one of the properties in Wyatt Close, we clearly cannot have a repeat of this. We ask you to park at the Village Hall or Songhurst Meadow and walk to the green from there.
Kit
We have lots of information on our ‘Ordering Kit ‘ web page including a link to the Gray Nicholls Store online store where kit can be purchased. The web page includes some useful videos on how to choose the right junior bat , how to choose the right bat size and how much you should spend on a junior bat. We have also included details of helmet sizes and a pads size guide.
Hats
We were hoping to have our new hats available for sale last Friday but the stock sadly hasn’t arrived yet. Fingers crossed 🤞it arrives in time for training this Friday …
When they arrive they can be purchased at the BBQ on Friday evening – juniors £10 , ladies £12 and senior men £15
Player safety
Player safety is our number one priority at the club and we will always put that ahead of everything else – particularly when it comes to head injuries. We always adopt a very cautious approach when a player gets injured which may include the player taking no further part in a game. This is not always welcomed by the players who may be keen to continue playing , and we would appeal to parents to discuss this with their children so they aware of club’s approach. The ECB have issued some guidance on head injuries – please click on the following link : https://www.ecb.co.uk/news/3341250/head-injury-advice
Stem/neck guards
One important change this year is that all junior players playing hardball cricket will be required to wear stem/neck guards when batting in a match or during training. This is now mandatory and will also be rolled out for all those under the age of 18yo within the Adult League. Sussex Cricket have made it very clear – no stem guard – no batting in matches. We have purchased a number of generic stemguards for players to use, but it would be a good idea for all players to acquire their own.
Livestreaming of Senior home matches
Over the winter we acquired the technology to livestream matches and have been testing the equipment and software for the last few weeks. Our plan is to livestream all senior home games so please do have a look at on our Playcricket site https://wisboroughgreen.play-cricket.com/Matches?tab=Fixture or our Youtube channel : https://www.youtube.com/@WisboroughGreenCricketClub/featured
Our livestreaming team have been working very hard to produce some graphics which will greatly enhance the viewing experience. A really big thank you to our tech guru Suzanna Braddock who has spent many hours generating player cards and videos using the latest AI wizardry. Here is a sneak peak at what’s coming up on the stream for this Saturday’s home game against Bognor Regis : Click here
Upcoming Fixtures
Many of our teams are in action again this next week and all of our age group fixtures are available on the ECB’s Playcricket website –please click here
- First X1 are playing Bognor Regis at home on Saturday afternoon at 1pm
- Second X1 are away to Rustington at 1pm on Saturday
- Women’s Hardball team are at home to Chichester Priory at 1:30pm on Sunday afternoon
- Sunday X1 are away to Crawley on Sunday afternoon
- Under 12’s are up against Horsham at home on Saturday morning
- Under 11 girls are kicking off their season with an away match against Billingshurst on Wednesay evening
- Under 10’s are up against Storrington away on Saturday morning
Team selections
Match reports
Second X1 vs Littlehampton
Cricket kicked off in fine but slightly unsatisfactory circumstances on Saturday as the second XI kicked off season 2026 with a dominant batting performance against everyone’s favourite team, Littlehampton, but which was all in vain as it started raining at tea, and the match was washed out.
A very strong team had a frustrating afternoon – nervous excitement and anticipation turning to frustrated irritation as we were able to take all the points after racking up almost 300 for 4 in our 40 overs. Proving that class is permanent, Steve Calder Smith (51) delivered a master class accompanied by the ever-promising Alex Martin (42 (runs!)) who finally reaped the rewards of ever-lasting patience in 2025. Bringing up 100 run opening stand in the 15th made the captain excited for a massive total with big hitters coming in down the order. A brief flurry of wickets, including two no-ball runouts, slowed the rate briefly in the middle, but the cavalier Tarni Dixon (83) and precision engineer Steve Talman (80 no/ highest score for the club) put on 153 for the 4th wicket and sent the worm rocketing with 140 coming off the last 10 overs with some thundering hitting and lost balls.
A delicious tea was taken as the droplets started to stream through the roof into the bar, and the match was called 45 mins after the planned resumption. Points shared – irritating, as we would have should captured the big 30 from the win.
Onwards and upwards to the pugilistic Rustington this weekend – with another strong team packed with debutants. With numbers swelled by the successful close season scouting and recruitment policy paying off, competition for places will be as high as ever across the club, which bodes extremely well as we progress. Can’t wait to bring home a big 60-point weekend this weekend.
Please click here for the full scorecard
Tim Palmer – Captain
Thanks to Chris Marshall our club photographer for the great pics this week
Club chair Tarnie Dixon finding early season form with the bat
Stephen Talman notching up his highest score for the club with an undefeated 80
Sunday Supplements vs Ancient Mariners
Sunday cricket is back on The Green. All is good in the world. After a fair bit of rain in the previous 24 hours, The Green looked lush. The younger players – filled the nets – excitedly crashing the ball about – super-over style. Those of more mature years gently limbered by the Pav while Peter and Suzana tinkered with their equipment on the balcony. Our opposition prepared in the Cricketers Arms.
The Ancient Mariners are a side with a rich history, and the former club of Wisborough legend Tarni Dixon. They brought a suitably mixed side of youth and experience, and a number of players who referred to Tarni as “Tony”. (He’s clearly more comfortable with us). The Mariners won the toss and asked Wisborough to bat – which we were keen to do anyway. We could have saved ourselves that walk to the middle.
Opening up for The Green, were young Nick Reed and not so young Chris Marshall. As we walked to the middle I said “I’m not too quick between the wickets Nick – let’s not go crazy” I think he may have misheard and thought I said” I’m lightening quick between the wickets Nick – lets run the first one hard.”
First ball – a leg side full toss – was dispatched by Reed, over deep backward square for 6. No need to play yourself in when you’re seeing the ball like a football. Nick clipped and punched the ball to all parts of the green, Another week or so we’ll be seeing his wagon wheel on the live stream. Marshall at the other end was less flamboyant. His wagon wheel less impressive. But there was a cover drive that rolled back the years, and the leg glance is an underrated life moment.
An opening partnership of 67 (52 of them by Reed) ended and new club sponsor Tommy Colbran strode to the crease. A beautiful mullet flowing from the back of his helmet and Turkey teeth brighter than the sun, Tommy lights up a cricket field. Positive and powerful, he joined Nick in the runs with a swashbuckling 30. Here is a man who looks like he genuinely enjoys his cricket. Every team needs a Tommy.
The next 8 batsman came and went fairly quickly. 119 for 3 turned to 125 all out. A collapse that included two golden ducks and a few other ducks less shiny. We had tea a little earlier than expected.
James Rainford and new signing Will Millard opened the bowling strongly. JR deserved a wicket early on and would have had one if a slip catch had stuck. Millard picked up the first wicket with a lovely away swinger that caught the outside edge and nestled in Josh Braddock’s gloves. Braddock is the keenest of young cricketers, who chats his way through the game and keeps the energy of the team up. Josh stepped up to keep wicket and produced a display of someone far beyond his years. To concentrate every ball and keep to bowlers over double his age and experience, especially when not a regular keeper, shows commitment and determination that will serve him well. He should be proud of his performance.
The other Josh (Dixon) was keen to join the party. He’ll take fine leg to fine leg, because he knows he’ll get his opportunity to put his mark on the game. And he did. Joshie’s first ball looped and bounced, bamboozling the opener. Consistently teasing with this almost identical ball eventually paid off. Two clean bowled Dixon. Two great sights – the WGCC branded stumps akimbo, and Joshie’s smile.
Another new signing – another Will. (We seem to have an unusually high percentage of Wills and Joshs at the club). Will Plowright bowled with great accuracy and picked up his own couple of clean bowled. James Rainford eventually got his reward after some fine bowling, and Archie Gray had a man caught by Tommy at long on. Ollie Warmington bowled well without luck, in what appeared to be black school shoes. Turns out there was more thought gone into his footwear than we suspected ,and these were in fact spiked golf shoes. If that was on someone’s village cricket bingo card – then Ollie has gifted you a full house.
Sadly – we just didn’t have enough runs on the board, and despite having them 7 down, the Mariners romped home. A top quality Cricks tea, and the sight of cricket in the sunshine, on the Green on a Sunday again, meant that the result was less important than the experience. Thanks to all involved, and to Peter and Suzana for broadcasting it to the world.
Please click here for the full scorecard
Chris Marshall – Captain
Great example of watching the ball all the way onto the bat – Josh Braddock.
Nothing getting past Ollie Warmington and his black shoes …
Tommy Colbran trying to put off the bowler with that Colgate smile …
James Rainford – How it started …… How it went : click here
Under 10 vs Horsham Trinity
Match Report by Captain Finn Fernandes
We played our first match of the season against Horsham Trinity, and it was a great start for the team. The day started slightly cold and cloudy but was sunny for our win.
Horsham had 8 players and we had 10, so we rotated two of our players off every 4 overs to keep things fair. The match was 20 overs.
We won the toss and I decided we would field first. I chose to do this so that we would then know what score we’d need to beat. We also made a pre-game decision to surprise Horsham by opening later with a left-handed player batting in the first pair, which worked really well.
Horsham Trinity started strongly, but we kept working hard in the field. At the beginning, we knew we needed to improve our backing up, but as the game went on, we really learned our lesson and supported each other much better.
There were some brilliant fielding moments. I managed to take a catch, and Jack also got us an important wicket. Tom and Tommy both backed up really well in the field, especially when I was bowling, which made a big difference. Even when a ball went through my legs, Alfie was there ready to back me up, which showed how much we had improved as a team.
Tom was involved in a great run out and took a wicket as well. Alfie also ran someone out, and Edward bowled strongly when he came on. Ed bowled a really good straight line, helping to keep the pressure on their batters. Tommy delivered some excellent bowling and picked up a wicket too. Jack then took a brilliant catch to get another batter out.
By this point, our fielding had really settled and become strong across the whole team.
Theo showed great game awareness in the field, knowing exactly when to go out and when to squeeze.
Coach Peter’s hat collection also had an excellent game – At every glance Peter looked taller as his stack of hats kept growing throughout!
Horsham Trinity put on a much appreciated table of biscuits and drinks at half time.
When it was our turn to bat, we started confidently. Tom hit a great four (and another that unfortunately didn’t count), and Tommy batted really well. I managed to score a four, and Alfie and Angus did too. Alfred also batted well, and Edward had a great innings.
We finished with 47 runs, 8 wickets and 4 x 4’s. Giving us a fantastic overall winning score of 308.
(Vs 35 runs and 1 wicket with total of 238).
Horsham Trinity chose Jack as their Man of the Match, which was very well deserved after his all-round performance.
The team played brilliantly with a great first win of the season. Everyone contributed, and I was really proud to captain the team.
A huge thank you to the coaches and parents for coming and supporting all
of us!
Fin Fernandes – Captain
Fantastic first game for the team
Captain Finn nominating the Horsham Trinity Player of the match ..
When one hat just isn’t enough.. …
Can you help in any way ?
We have over 200 juniors enjoying playing cricket this year which is in itself a major undertaking. There is an increasingly smaller group of volunteers who put a lot of effort to keep the show on the road and we would welcome support from parents – particularly scorers , umpires , tea makers etc etc . If you are able to help in any way please do let us know. We could do with a lot more help – even if its on an occasional basis
And finally – spotted out and about …
(nothing to do with cricket usually – any excuse to just have a little chuckle ..)
That’s it for this week.
If there is anything we need to know you know where to find us
Have a great cricketing week 🏏😊
Cheers
Wizzy