Planning for the 2021 Representative season was never going to be easy; with the previous season’s representative cricket almost entirely wiped out by COVID and the protocols surrounding its management, we were uncertain as to how many of our fixtures for 2021 might be adversely effected again, as COVID bubbles, safety regulations and the willingness of clubs, players and administrators to “put themselves out there” were unknown quantities as the season commenced. 

In the event, the grasping tentacles of the pandemic did put paid to two of our regular County fixtures, against Kent 2 and Middlesex 2. Weather too, had its way with another of our County matches, rain and flooding seeing us not even traveling for the scheduled game against Hampshire 2 at the end of June. 

So frustrations abounded and as we headed into the early summer it became clear that despite selection having been undertaken pre-season as ever, getting competitive teams onto the pitch on match day was going to be no simple task either. This, in the main, was due to a group of regular players over the past seven seasons becoming less available as their lives unfold, careers develop and families commenced. It is always the intention of Conference to identify new, upcoming cricketers from its club membership and to provide opportunities for them to play representative cricket at as high a level as possible within the amateur game. In recent seasons we have witnessed the development of a number of club cricketers into professionals who have graced our programme. Imran Quyuum (Finchley CC and Kent CCC) has been a notable success, though very sadly he has had to announce his retirement from elite cricket due to injury. In 2021, the likes of Steven Reingold (Stanmore CC and Glamorgan CCC), Tom Cullen (ex Stanmore CC and Glamorgan CCC) and Dan Moriarty (ex Aston Rowant CC and Surrey CCC) had breakthrough seasons with their counties having been recent representatives of the Conference. Many more Conference players have been regulars in various NCCA teams through the summer, and it remains a source of great pride to see the ongoing development of young cricketers into fully fledged representative players at a high level of the game. 

Almost predictably the season commenced with a rained off against Oxford University - not before we had traveled however and where, once there, it became evident we were never going to change into playing kit! This was a great shame because the match would have afforded us an early look at a raft of new players and on paper, we were strong. 

It was a month later then, when Conference eventually took the field in late June against British Police at Uppingham Town CC. Of the original elected eleven, only 2 actually played and right up to the morning of the match we were seeking a player or 2. It was therefore, a young and inexperienced side that took the field - albeit with an eye to the future, one with plenty of potential. On the day however, a flying start by British Police with the bat enabled them to wrest control of the game for the day as they ran out comfortable winners for the first time against Conference in almost a decade. Great work is being done within the Police ranks by David Fraser-Darling and his team of coaches; Police cricket is looking once again, very strong and this augurs well for future seasons of this long standing and competitive fixture. 

With the cancellation of the Hampshire match our next fixture was against the Army at Aldershot. Again, a young and new side with four debutants slipped onto the pitch under the experienced captaincy of Dan Roberts (Walton-on-Thames CC) to bowl first……..and it was a fine performance too with debutant Casper Mason (Aston Rowant CC) taking 5-11 from his 10 overs as Conference restricted the Army to 170-9 off 50 overs. Our reply with the bat however, was not equal to the task and a deal of naivety on a wearing and slowing wicket betrayed the lack of experience in the group. Only Baber Choudhary (Old Brentwoods CC) showed any real acumen and demonstrated just what a quality cricketer he is - something he would repeat regularly during the season. Another loss then, but building bricks beginning to cement……. 

The match against the World Sport Exchange, an organisation that places overseas players in all forms of cricket around the world, from IPL through 1st class and down to club cricket, was much anticipated. The previous time Conference played them was in 2019 and we came off best against a side boasting 3 Test cricketers. This time round WSX again looked very strong and were invited to bat first on a belting wicket at Harlow CC. Conference’s bowling was spearheaded by only 2 seamers, Casper Mason and Tristan Blackledge (Mildenhall CC), making his Conference debut. Both bowled fine early spells , supported through the innings by our battery of spinners who, despite the carnage wrought by Kadeem Alleyne (who a fortnight later was padding up for the Zouks in the CPL), restricted WSX to 243 all out. Blackledge ended the innings with 4-36 in a fine display of sharp swing bowling. With the pitch being very true and a fast outfield to assist shotmaking, Conference began its innings with confidence. Dan Roberts helped lay an early platform, but the innings really took off once Baber Choudhary and Cole Campbell (East Molesey CC) came together……..and remained there until the winning shot was made, scoring 95 and 92 not out respectively. The game was won with 10 overs to spare and we witnessed a very fine stand between two quality batsmen in the club game. Cole Campbell was another on debut and is a prodigious talent, there is no doubt.

Next up was a match against the Thames Valley Representative X1, strongly reinforced by a fist full of overseas players. What a wonderful day, in celebration of the League’s 50th year, the game being played at the bucolically beautiful Shardaloes, home to Amersham CC. Batting first, CCC made 251-7, somewhat short of expectations given the fine form of Dan Roberts (96), well supported by 17 year old Sachin Shanmugavel (Cranleigh CC) (35) and Sumra Gurmehar (Datchet CC) (36). On a benign wicket and despite good early bowling from Mason, TVCL were able to accelerate their innings and got over the line 7 wickets down. Skipper Darren Ironside (Mildenhall CC and Suffolk CCC) took 3-40 with his underrated off spin. 

Our Under 25 side took on Essex 2 at Bishop’s Stortford in a 3 day game next, which developed into a match that highlighted significant quality in both sides and went to the wire. Batting first, Essex raced on Day 1 to 379-3, thanks in the main to a magnificent 151 not out from Foruze Khushi (who batted himself into the Essex One Day side the following weekend, where he scored another ton) and 97 from Robin Das. In reply, Conference declared their first innings on 272-8. Its innings was highlighted by an exemplary example of opening batting from Finnan Bryan (Beckenham CC) who scored 80 and took harsh toll on anything short. He was ably supported by skipper Ironside (52 not out) and Cole Campbell (47). Essex applied the accelerator in the 2nd innings, declaring at 177-3 off 35 overs, to set up an assault on Conference’s batters on the final day. For almost the entire 3 days, the game was played in sunshine that displayed the beautiful Bishops Stortford ground at its best. However, with Conference on 163-5 at tea on the last day, the rain came to ruin a perfectly set up match, where all results were possible. Such a shame as both teams had invested so much into a great contest. Conference’s 2nd innings contained a second 50 from Bryan and a very fine 50 from his opening partner Hamza Ahmed (North Mymms CC and Hertfordshire CCC). 

By this stage of the summer it was clear to us that we were unearthing some raw quality from a crop of new players. The talent within our club game is very evident. What does appear to be lacking however, especially in young players brought up on a diet of T20 and coloured clothing, is an element of aptitude and the mental ability to adjust to conditions and circumstance. This made itself evident through the season when games were lost that should have been won - almost inexplicably; very much the case when we played Bucks Academy at High Wycombe CC. 

Against a strong Bucks side, led by Conference player Dan Ogden, Conference bowled first and through the aggressive and quality seam bowling of Casper Mason (3-32), assumed a control on the game. With rain shortening the match to 47 overs per side, Bucks ended their innings on 212-7. CCC’s reply was direct and decisive; with Darren Ironside settling in for a very fine 81, Conference was in complete control of the match and outcome. yet when Ironside was dismissed it sparked a quite extraordinary collapse that saw the innings tail off at 206-8, 6 runs short. Hayden Rossouw (Aston Rowant CC) had made 40 quality runs before holing out, after which no batsman found it in them to take ownership of a small run chase. It was a frustrating loss for such a talented side and one borne of tender years and lack of match management experience. 

Next up on our tour of exceptional club grounds of the south of England, Conference traveled to Tunbridge Wells CC to play MCC. Having been one of the few matches of 2020, when we won by 9 wickets, we expected a strong side from MCC. In the event, strong or otherwise, Conference put on a fine all-round performance that ensured only one result would pertain. The day commenced with the well deserved awarding of a CCC Cap to Ahmad Elech (Ealing CC); one of CCC’s stand out players of the past decade. Ahmad’s business has meant he has never toured with CCC, but he has been one of our finest cricketers who, when on form, is glorious to watch at the wicket. Caps are awarded for 25 Representative appearances and on this occasion, Elech chose to once again illustrate his quality with a brilliant 74 as Conference batted first. However, Ahmad had to play second fiddle to Darren Ironside who by now, was in the batting form of his life for club, Suffolk and CCC. Darren’s 143 was as fine a century as I can remember for Conference; add to that Elech’s contribution and another fine hand from Finnan Bryan (62) enabled CCC to close out on 319-4 after 50 overs. In reply, Jordan McLeod (Harefield CC) got early wickets that ripped the guts out of MCC’s response, and despite skipper Will Hanson going soft on the opposition (he is an MCC member after all!), they could muster no more than 215-7 as Conference ran out winners by 102 runs. 

The final Representative match of the season was an Under 25 fixture against Free Foresters CC at Brondesbury CC. A young side took the field and bowled soundly to restrict FF to 240-8 off their 50 overs. Jan Gray (Sandwich Town CC) took 3-40 with his leg spin and highlighted his value to any side he plays for. For 3 years now, Jan has been a staple of Conference sides and provides skill and positivity to our teams. Our batting however, yet again displayed the same lack of match management and poor decision making that sawed us off against Bucks. cruising towards the target, wickets suddenly started to fall for no obvious reason other than batters’ boredom ! Hayden Roussouw batted well for 59 before yet again holing out. Finnan Bryan completed a superb season for Conference with 42 and a number of others got in and got out, meaning we ended losing a game comfortably that should have been won. 

A mixed bag then, in terms of results. However the 2021 season has seen us blood a good quantity of new cricketers that should develop into fine club players over the next couple of seasons and who will only get better. Mention has to be made of Darren Ironside, who captained the side on numerous occasions and whose own game has developed to a high level……he is a very fine cricketer now and we look forward to seeing a lot of him in Conference colours in the years to come. Finnan Bryan had a great season for CCC, as did Casper Mason on his debut season. Never certain of a 1st team slot at Aston Rowant, he repeatedly bowled like the leader of a high class bowling attack throughout the summer and will be a mainstay of Conference teams over the coming seasons. 

In support of the Representative programme, Conference plays a number of matches against member clubs celebrating anniversaries. These matches are important to Conference, as they provide an opportunity for us to look at new players recommended by their clubs, and to determine those that might go onto a higher level of the game. Through the season, we had wonderful days at Frimley CC, East Molesey CC, Welwyn Garden City CC, Shenfield CC and Abbots Langley CC, all of whom proved to be wonderful and generous hosts and who ensured our players and officials were made welcome and wanted for nothing. To those clubs and to Harlow CC, Amersham CC, Bishops Stortford CC, High Wycombe CC, Tunbridge Wells CC, Brondesbury CC and Brentham CC, who hosted our matches through the summer, a huge ‘thank you’ for all you did to ensure our cricket season was a memorable one. Given the pandemic, so many volunteers have had to go the extra mile to ensure cricket could be played this summer. We have been blessed by the efforts of all those that support Conference cricket. 

Beyond cricket played in Conference colours, CCC still provides 2 Cup competitions: The Conference Cup - Played for the Bertie Joel Trophy, and the Sovereign Trophy. The first is a member club competition, the latter an inter-league tournament. Record numbers for recent years entered both competitions and despite the frustrations of weather and COVID, both concluded in fine finals. East Molesey CC defeated Sandwich Town CC in the Conference Cup final on a lovely September day at Brentwood CC, whilst in the Sovereign Trophy, the Elliot Davis League ran out victors against the Caribbean Cup XI at the excellent Valley End CC. Again, a sincere thanks to all the clubs and leagues that entered our competitions and to Brentwood and Valley End who hosted the two finals superbly. We are deeply grateful. 

In closing, I’d l like to highlight a major point around Conference Cricket…….For the best part of a 100 years, CCC has been fielding representative sides to support and celebrate the quality of club cricket in London, the Home Counties and the South. It is a rich history that back in the day, saw Conference playing year on year against the touring Test Nations, and since the 1970s providing tours for club players to represent the CCC overseas. Tours have been diverse and in recent times have engaged with emerging cricketing nations such as Italy and Oman. Our centenary tour to West Indies in 2015 had not only our Representative side but also our Women’s squad and a Veterans’ squad playing in Barbados where over 100 people supported the trip. In any given year, our domestic programme provides an opportunity to young players at no cost to themselves, to play cricket at the highest amateur level possible. We remain committed to advancing young cricketers and hope to see more emerging from the ranks of club cricket to playing at the elite level, perhaps with a little encouragement from our programme. If there is anyone in clubland that feels they might wish to help us fund our programme, we would be deeply appreciative; sustaining our revenues is challenging in these times and what central funding we receive is not given to support our playing season, rather the political, administrative and service provision elements of our broader work. 

The final thank yous go to Stan Nicholson firstly, who works tirelessly to ensure we have opposition to play and cricketers to fill our teams. To the umpires and scorers who made themselves available in 2021 and to the players - all of whom I hope, found that CCC cricket was a positive and enjoyable addition to their cricket calendar. 

See you all in 2022. 

Simon Prodger

Chairman of Cricket and Secretary, CCC

CCC Match Scores 2021 

Representative XI Matches 

British Police CC (at Uppingham Town CC) on 23rd June

British Police won by 130 runs

British Police 279-7 (50 overs) Matt Sissons 78, Will Evans 38, George Duke 2/37

CCC 149 all out (40 overs) Dharmarajsinh Jhala 31, Stuart Drakeley 4/25, Mitchell Harris 3/45.

Hampshire 2nd XI (at Valley End CC) on 29th June

Match cancelled due to water-logged pitch

The Army CC (at the Army Cricket Ground, Aldershot) on 1st July

The Army won by 42 runs

Army 170-9 (50 overs) Liam Flether 39, Caspar Mason 5/11 (on CCC debut)

CCC 128 all out (41.3 overs) Baber Choudhary 32, Graham Wiseman 4/20

World Sports XChange XI (at Harlow CC) on 7th July

CCC won by 8 wkts

WSX 243 all out (49.4 overs) Kadeem Alleyne 68, Miguel Machado 65, Tristan Blackledge 4/36 (on CCC debut)

CCC 244-2 (40.2 overs) Baber Choudhary 95*, Cole Campbell 92* (on CCC debut)

Middlesex 2nd XI (at Teddington CC) on 4th August

Match cancelled due to ECB Covid guidence regard the non mixing of Professional and recreatonal cricketers

MCC (at Tunbridge Wells CC) on 18th August

CCC won by 104 runs

CCC 319-4 (50 overs) Darren Ironside 143, Ahmad Elech 74, Finnan Bryan 62

MCC 215-7 (50 overs) Ben Ladd-Gibbon 60*, Tom Phillippe 37, Jordan McLeod 3/30

Under 25 XI Matches

Oxford University – The Blues (at The Parks, Oxford) on 18th May

Match cancelled due to water-logged pitch

Essex CCC Board XI (at Bishop’s Stortford CC) on 3rd to 5th August

Match Drawn

Essex 1st innings 379-3 (82.5 overs) Foruze Khushi 151*, Robin Das 97, Ryan Karunakaran 50*

CCC 1st innings 272-8 (81 overs) Finnan Bryan 80, Cole Campbell 47, Darren Ironside 52, Aaron Beard 4/53

Essex 2nd innings 177-3 (35 overs) Joe MacGregor 59*, Luc Benkenstein 41

CCC 2nd innings 163-5 (57.3 overs) Finnan Bryan 59, Hamza Ahmed 52, Ryan Karunakaran 3/38

Buckinghamshire Academy (at High Wycombe CC) on 12th August

Bucks won by 6 runs

Bucks 212-7 (47 overs) Jai Angell 69, Ross Richardson 41, Caspar Mason 3/32

CCC 206-8 (47 overs) Darren Ironside 81, Hayden Rossouw 40, Jack Rodnight 4/28

Free Foresters Academy (at Brondesbury CC) on 31st August

Free Foresters won by 54 runs

FF 240-8 (50 overs) Wajid Shah 47, Scott Forrester 39*, Jan Gray 3/40

CCC 186 all out (36.1 overs) Hayden Rossouw 59. Finnan Bryan 42, Wajid Shah 4/14, Mohammed Rizvi 3/34

Women’s XI Matches

British Police CC Womens XI (Odiham & Greywell CC) on 3rd June (2 x T20’s)

Match 1: British Police won by 3 wkts.

CCC 112-7 (20 overs) Dani Ransley 30, Anje Lague 23, Laura Crofts 3/22.

BP 113-7 (19.2 overs) Holly Hopes 45.

Match 2: British Police won by 11 runs

BP 149-2 (20 overs) Laura Crofts 52, Sian Phillips 41.

CCC 138-8 (20 overs) Dani Ransley 67

President’s XI Matches

Thames Valley Cricket League XI (Amersham CC) on 22nd July

TVCL won by 3 wkts

CCC 251-7 decl (56 overs) Dan Roberts 96, Sumra Gurmehar 36*, Sachin Shanmagavel 35.

TVCL 255-7 (48 overs) Karanpreet Singh 46, Johnny Bowers 44, Chris Marrow 41, Darren Ironside 3/40.

Bromley CC on 27th July

Match cancelled due to Covid concerns at Bromley CC

Fimley CC on 11th August (T20)

Frimley won by 7 wkts

CCC 120-8 (20 overs) Billy Sewell 50, Marcus Campopiano 34, Foster Collins 4/12

Frimley 122-3 (16.4 overs) Reece Fullbrook 58, Andy Hornbuckle 33*

East Molesey CC on 17th August

East Molesey won by 55 runs

EMCC 255-8 (45 overs) Keiran Burge 67, Nick Stevens 69, Andrew Westphal 59

CCC 200 all out (36 overs) Ranjit Singh 57, Toby Porter 3/51, Toby Green 3/10

Welwyn Garden City CC on 19th August

CCC won by 189 runs

CCC 253-3 decl (43.3 overs) Hamza Ahmed 125*, Nathan Khelawon 49

WGC 64 all out (23.1 overs) Asad Sajjid 5/6  (on CCC debut)

Shenfield CC on 24th August

CCC won by 5 wkts

Shenfield 227 all out (44.5 overs) David Hickey 63, Sagar Joshi 4/45

CCC 228-5 (38.3 overs) Baber Choudhary 69, Zack Fagg 61

Abbots Langley CC on 26th August

Abbots Langley won by 1 wkt

CCC 161 all out (44.3 overs) David Burton 66, William Graves 4/33

Abbots Langley 163-9 (43.1 overs) Nick Gurney 38, George Agius 30, David Burton 3/34

CCC Veteran’s XI Match

Played as an extra President’s XI match arranged by CCC 2020 & 2021 President, Roger Dakin, and CCC player/captain legend, Mark Stear

v a Brentham CC XI on 1st September

Brentham won by 4 wkts

CCC 132-5 (25 overs) Russell Collard 59, Mark Simmons 28, Max Lovelock 2/39, Tomek Tsang 2/14
Brentham 133-6 (24.4 overs) Pravin Jadhav 32, Ajit Shah 36*, Darrell Carter 2/47, Russell Collard 3/32