Wisbech Cricket Club takes positives from its relegation from East Anglian Premier League
After one season in the East Anglian Premier League Wisbech Cricket Club were relegated following their recent comprehensive play-off defeat against Halstead by 179 runs.
2024 will see the Fenland club return to the Whitings Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire League.
But there is no sign of doom and gloom at Harecroft Road as Stephen Wallis found out in our exclusive Q and A with Wisbech skipper James Williams.
You have had over a week now to take in the disappointment of being relegated back into the Whitings League, briefly how do you reflect on the whole season?
Obviously disappointing to be relegated after one year, but there have been so many positives to take from this season.
The way our youngsters have taken on the challenge of premier league cricket and performed at that level, George
Bruce taking 30+ wickets, Josh Porter has been brilliant in only his second season of bowling spin.
Josh Bowers being in the top ten leading run scorers in the league.
It was great to see us compete in so many games this year, however the consistency just wasn’t there to keep us up.
With four wins out of 19 matches played, was the league even more challenging than you thought?
Four wins and three draws in all formats and we feel there should have been a few more wins in there as well from the positions we were in, in certain games.
We knew it was going to be a challenge.
There are some great teams and players in that league, but we have a great group of talented players and unfortunately, we couldn’t get the points needed.
What do you think were the main reasons for relegation?
Consistency, we had too many games where we were on top and allowed the opposition to get back into the game and that is probably a lack of experience as well.
We struggled with injuries and availability as well. We probably didn’t get our strongest team out enough this season.
Was there a turning point when the drop could have been avoided? You narrowly lost at home to Saffron Walden in your penultimate match on September 9.
I think the Copdock game, which was the first pink ball game in the second half of the season. We lost by one wicket off the last ball of the game.
I think Horsford won that week as well, which got them closer to us. If we had won that game, we would have had a lot more confidence going into that final stage of the season.
Which players do you think made the biggest improvement for Wisbech CC in 2023?
George Bruce, Josh Porter and Josh Bowers were excellent for us this year. They’re a huge part of our team and they all stepped up their game this season.
How impressed were you with your overseas player Ryan Clark, and will he be returning next season?
Ryan has been brilliant for us again this season both on and off the field.
He has scored vital runs at the top of the order and bowled brilliantly all season. We are certainly hoping he makes a return in 2024!
Personally, as a previous Cambridgeshire skipper do you wish you had played in the East Anglian Premier League when you were younger rather than in the twilight of your career?
It would have been great to play it back in my younger days and it was a goal for the club to get there a long time ago, but unfortunately it didn’t happen then, but it has happened now. I have thoroughly enjoyed leading these lads in the prem this year.
Does the disappointment of this season make you and the club more determined than ever to bounce back in 2024, win the Whitings league and get back in the EAPL?
100 per cent we want to bounce back and win the Whitings next year. It was gutting to be relegated and we want to get back up there if we can!
Are you hopeful of keeping hold of all the current squad for next season?
Yes, I certainly hope so! We are pretty much all local lads playing for our home club!
What are your plans for next season? Is it your intention to continue as captain, if elected, of the club?
This is up for debate at the minute, relegation is still pretty fresh in my mind at the minute, so I haven’t made my mind up yet.
Looking back at this momentous season both on and off the field, would you like to thank any people in particular for their work during the summer?
It was a huge season for the club and the whole club got behind us. Firstly, the players and how hard they worked this summer. To Charlie and Lisa who did the catering for us.
The cricket may not have been great at times, but the food was incredible! John Bowers for making the outfield look like a First Class ground.
Gary Frear and Ryan for their work on the wicket and to Paul Garner for scoring all year.
How did all the club’s teams perform in 2023? 2nd XI were third, 3rd XI were seventh, 4th XI were eighth
When will you all be back for winter nets preparing for next season?
We will be back training in January
Finally on a national cricket level what do you think are England’s chances in the Men’s World cup which starts on October 5?
Can you give us your four semi finalists and the winners?
Semi-finalists – Pakistan/England/India/Australia; Winner – India
