Berks set to mix it with Middlesex

Sportsdesk • Published 13 Jan 2010 09:00 0 Comments

BERKSHIRE cricketers will warm up for the 2010 season with three fixtures against Middlesex.

The two counties have had a good relationship for several years and the link was recently extended when Richard Johnson, having spent two seasons with Berkshire, returned to Lord's as a fast bowling coach.

Berkshire will face Middlesex in two one-day midweek games, playing a 1st XI on March 31 and the second team on April 6.

Middlesex are due to be the host team, although venues have yet to be confirmed, but the first-class county will be coming to Berkshire for another Twenty20 game at Finchampstead on Wednesday May 26 (5pm).

Last year's match proved highly entertaining with the Royal county giving their illustrious opponents a good run for their money before suffering a narrow defeat.

Berkshire will also be playing Wiltshire in the one-day Marlborough Cup at Devizes on Sunday April 18, when they will be seeking revenge for their defeat at Thatcham last season.

Next May's fixtures will be dominated by the Minor Counties KO Cup, with Berkshire playing Cambridgeshire at Falkland and Lincolnshire at Henley, while facing away trips to Norfolk and Suffolk.

Berkshire, who finished sixth in the Western Division last season having won the title in 2008, commence their three-day championship fixtures by playing Dorset at Falkland's Wash Common ground on June 6-8.

Their other home games will be against Wales Minor Counties at Falkland on July 4-6 and Cheshire, who won the Western Division last year, at Finchampstead on July 18-20.

Berkshire are also arranging a number of matches for their 2nd XI, which has replaced their Development team, and away games are planned against the academy sides of Hampshire and Middlesex, before they play Glamorgan Academy in a two-day game at Reading's Sonning Lane ground on July 8-9.

Berkshire team manager David Morris is already looking forward to the summer but has yet to finalise his first team squad as he waits to see whether Richard Logan or Carl Crowe will be the county's professional this season.

Allrounder Logan, who topped both the county batting and bowling averages in 2009, could be set to join Surrey on a one-year contract after making his debut for them in a day-night game against Warwickshire at the Brit Oval last September.

"Carl Crowe is available now so it's a choice between him and Richard Logan because both have played more than 40 first class matches and you can only have one in your side," Morris said.

"We're in limbo a bit at the moment but Richard could yet get an offer from a first class county which would sort out the issue.

"But I don't envisage many changes. Many of these players won the championship two seasons ago. We had a disappointing season last year so it's a chance for them to redeem themselves."

Henley's Bjorn Mordt, 31, will skipper the Berkshire side for the fourth successive season, but Michael Bates won't be returning because of his Hampshire commitments.

Wicketkeeper Tom Burrows will be available for one-day games while James Morris should be around for most of the season once his school duties are over.

Nets start at Bradfield College on January 30 for nine weeks.

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