Durham Cricket Academy Director John Windows is delighted that the Academy side and county age group teams have been able to return to competitive action this summer, despite the coronavirus pandemic halting cricket for most of the season.
The boys’ Academy returned to North East Premier League action in July to compete in the Banks Salver, while the county age group teams got back underway in August playing competitive matches against other counties.
“It is just an absolute relief that we are back playing, for it to be stopped when it was just as everyone was looking forward to the new season starting, so to be starved of it for so long, it is just an absolute pleasure that cricket is finally back and especially the youngsters”, said Academy Director, John Windows.
Since the return of competitive cricket, the boy’s Academy have been competing in the North East Premier League Banks Salver competition, sitting in second place in the West Group, having won four games, lost one and had a washout.
“The league contacted us to ask if we would like to make up the spare space in one of the groups and it was an absolute no brainer for us to take part in the 2020 competition.
“As there are no county competitions it has been perfect to join up together as a side and try and wrestle some performances and create some initivates in matches, is great for the lads, so it has been a pleasure to be part of it and a huge thanks to the league for asking us to be a part of it.
“I have been really pleased with the performances and efforts shown from the lads since returning back this summer and some outstanding results have been shown on the field.”
Despite only having a month to play county age group cricket, the teams have used this past month to make the most out of what should have been an action-packed summer, John adding.
“The club brought the age group sides back at the start of August, so they have had a jam-packed month of cricket trying to get games in, it’s just typical that the weather isn’t playing ball in trying to get the games in as we have had quite a few rained off.
“However in among the showers, we have tried to play as much as we can, and likewise for those guys, they aren’t getting worse as cricketers, they are just missing that opportunity to prove to themselves and each other just how good of players they are.
“It was vitally important to get cricket played this summer, I think as to how the players look at themselves and if they the time elapses for so long in playing for the county and representing the county and feeling that you are at that level, the longer that goes the harder it becomes to see yourself as that level.
“Overall, it has been really fruit full and beneficial to those players, to come back just for their own self-esteem and to get the feeling of being able to play at that level.”