Mini leagues are the antidote to the coronavirus crisis

Cricket - A round-up from the local clubs

Mini cricket leagues are seen as the antidote to the chaos caused by the coronaviris crisis.

The Lincs Premier Division, the Cambs League and the Hunts League have created regionalised competitons for small groups of clubs for the remainder of the summer.

There are Cambs League fixtures involving March and Wisbech this Saturday (1pm starts), but Ramsey and Stamford Town have opted out of the competition for this season.

Stamford Town will contest the Hunts League in 2020 despite reaching Division One of the Cambs League for the first time in the club’s history.

Stamford skipper Tom Williams explained: “We decided to opt out of the Cambs mini league because of the amount of travelling required.

“The break from competitive cricket will do some players some good and mean our young squad will come back refreshed and eager for the challenge of Cambs Division One next season, something that’s been our goal since joining the set-up six seasons ago.”

Stamford open their Hunts Division One North season at Nassington on Saturday.

There will be no overseas players knocking around the local circuit this season because of Covid-19.

MarketDeepinghadsigned up a South African import to replace their highly successful Sri Lankan Sachithra Perera who is close to winning selection to his national T20 side.

Deeping are one of several clubs to have a new skipper. James Hook will be in charge at Outgang Road, while James Williams (Wisbech), Joe Harrington (Ufford Park), Andrew

Wright (March) and Courtney Kruger (Bourne) are all new appointments for 2020.

Cambs Division Two side Castor are pleased to welcome opening batsmen Mark Wheat and Cameron Dockerill back to Port Lane, but less happy to lose long-serving Ryan Evans to Ketton.

Wisbech have lost Cambs batsman/wicketkeeper Josh Bowers to higher-level Barwell.

Other start dates: July •

25: Lincs Premier Division. July 26: Rutland League: August 1: South Lincs League, Leicestershire League.

Cameron Dockerill is back at Castor CC for the 2020 season