After two years of Covid-restrictions, cricketers across the county are ready to finally fully return to normality.
Niall Young, Cricket Development Manager at Lincolnshire Cricket, said: “We’re looking forward to it. There’s lots of new stuff happening this season.
“We’ve got some new competitions starting in the women’s game as well, and we can’t wait for it to start.”
Just three years ago, there had hardly been any club activity for women and girls in the county. Now, there are 14 clubs that have incorporated a women’s side, with 13 entering league competition.
“We think women’s cricket has really taken off. Additionally, we are also trying to set up some girls-only cricket clubs,” Mr Young added.
The format for the men’s top tier, the Lincolnshire Cricket Board Premier League, will slightly change with 12 teams competing this year instead of just 10 the three previous seasons.
One of the three promoted teams is Nettleham Cricket Club. They will join Lincolnshire’s top-flight for the first time since 2016.
Rhett Bridgens, vice-captain, said about the side’s aspirations: “We’re looking to upset a few teams. Naturally, because we’ve just been promoted, we’re going to be the underdog.
“But we’re more than capable of holding ourselves in the ECB. Our main target is just to stay in the league this year and then we can kick on from there.”
The season opens on Saturday, April 23, when, alongside other games, Nettleham CC will face Market Deeping CC away at 11:30.
