Tour and 1st Match Report........
On Sunday 9th April the Hertfordshire EPP Squad, made up of 15 members from the County U15 & U17 Squads, embarked on a 10 day pre-season tour to Barbados, hosted by former West Indies Cricketing legend Gordon Greenidge. The tour includes a fixture at the world famous Bridgetown, Kensington Oval v’s Barbados U17.
Herts EPP Squad:
Ben Adshead, David Burnell, Rohan Day, Teddy Duke, Lewis Hodgins, Oliver Howell, Harry Kendal, George Langston, Liberty Maher, Tom McCormick, Alex Palmer, Alex Portas, Jamie Regan, Scott Rolfe, Jack Timms
Coaches: Mark Ilott, Iain Fletcher / Manager: Malcolm Kiely
On arrival at the hotel, and after their long flight, the boys wasted no time in taking their first dip with an impromptu fielding session in the Caribbean Sea!
Later they went to a reception hosted by West Indian legend Gordon Greenidge where they were welcomed to Barbados by Greenidge, his former West Indian opening partner Desmond Haynes and Minister of Tourism Richard Searles.
Team Manager, Malcolm Kiely pictured with Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes
After a good nights sleep the Herts EPP had their first proper training session on Monday at the Central Cricket Club. After a near 3 hour session in 30 degrees the squad retired to the hotel and a side was selected for the first match versus one of the oldest clubs on the island, Wanderers Cricket Club.
Match Report: Herts EPP V Wanderers CCC
Wanderers CC 179
Herts 166-8
Wanders CC win by 13 runs.
Herts Team: Hodgins (Capt), Palmer, Rolfe, Portas, Howell, Burnell, Regan, McCormick, Day, Timms, Maher, Kendal (wk).
Naïve batting cost Herts a simple victory after the opening pair of Lewis Hodgins and Alex Portas had given the chase an excellent start putting on 50 in quick time. It encapsulated the whole day as a rusty Herts team delivered a curates egg of a performance with a mix of excellence and silliness.
However, the greatest shame was the removal, from the match of Jamie Regan after an superb bowling performance as a dive on the gravelly outfield resulted in a nasty gash on his knee which needed medical attention.
The hope is he will, be fit enough to play today at the Kensington Oval and onwards but it will take a stoic attitude from Regan as he will be in some pain.
Captain Lewis Hodgins in action v's Wanderers CC
The full tour match itinerary is as follows:
Tuesday 11 April
Herts EPP v Wanderers XI
Wanderers Sports Club – 50 Overs / Red ball
Wednesday 12 April
Herts EPP v Barbados U17
Kensington Oval – 2 x Day/Night T20’s / White Ball
Thursday 13 April 2017
Herts EPP v BCA/NSC XI
Isolation Sports Club – 50 Overs / White Ball
Saturday 15 April
Herts EPP v Select BCA XI
Police Sports Club – 50 Overs / White Ball
Monday - Tuesday 17-18 April
Herts EPP v Barbados U17
SJPP Samuel Jackman Prescott Polytechnic – 2 Day / Red Ball