24th April 2025
| Matt Thompson
It’s all systems go as the season kicks off in earnest for a number of teams this weekend!
Wales National County Match Preview (NCCA One Day Trophy vs Dorset)
Lisvane Cricket Club | 50 overs | 11am start
Cam Herring’s side open up their NCCA One Day Trophy campaign hosting Dorset at Lisvane looking to register an early win in the group stages. They will have to do it against the form book given that 2021 was the last time Wales opened up the 50 over format with a win – that was against Buckinghamshire at Port Talbot. Despite a loss to Wales in the three day format last season at Ebbw Vale, Dorset have had Wales’ number in the one day trophy in recent years it would seem with three consecutive wins between 2022-2024; the most recent of which came last year at Wimborne where David Scott, Alex Eckland and Finn Gordon made light work of Wales’ modest 228.
Every season brings an opportunity to start anew however, and Herring will be keen for his side to build off a final day win against Hertfordshire in the group stage last season. He can take some comfort in four Wales NC alumni being made available by Glamorgan in Will Smale, Ben Morris, Callum Nicholls and Henry Hurle which should add some balance across all three disciplines. Lisvane raised (in cricket club terms) Hurle in particular showed plenty of indications last season in white ball national counties cricket to suggest he is one to watch out for on the professional stage sooner rather than later, whilst Smale enjoyed an impressive T20 Blast campaign at the top of the order in 2024. Nicholls registered his maiden Wales NC century in the longer format against Dorset last summer and will be looking to show why he was awarded with a rookie contract during the winter.
CAPTION: Henry Hurle returns to his home club of Lisvane, looking to help Wales get off to a strogn start in the NCCA One Day Trophy. Credit: CIAC Images.
Rhodri Lewis looks set to make his competitive debut for his home country after his winter move from Berkshire and there is a debut for former Glamorgan academy all rounder Zac Le Riche who comes in with the promising Tom Norton a precautionary fitness concern. Left arm seamer Joseph Davies has looked sharp during the early weeks of the season and makes the XI alongside wrist spinner Alex Russell. There are places in the squad for St Fagans’ Ollie Sherwood and Milo Ayres. Left arm spinner Romano Franco unluckily misses out.
Dorset have named a strong side with both Eckland brothers involved (Joseph being rookie contracted by Hampshire) as well as both Gordon brothers. Will Tripcony of Cardiff UCCE is also involved alongside Matt Burton who has had appearances for Glamorgan 2nd XI in the past few seasons.
Player/Coach Brad Wadlan is keeping his feet firmly on the ground ahead of Sunday but indicated his troops are ready to go. He said:
“We are all very much looking forward to kicking off the 50 over competition this weekend. All the batters have made significant scores in the pre-season with a few hundreds in there. Bowlers have got overs under their belts with wickets taken so it’s over to the lads now to continue the early season form.”
Play commences from 11am on Sunday (free admission) with live streaming available via the Cricket Wales YouTube channel.
To read up on Wales NC’s wider season preview and player in’s and out’s visit: https://cricketwales.org.uk/news/wales-nc-season-preview-pre-season-news
Wales NC from: WTS Smale (Newport), CR Nicholls (St Fagans), HLR Friend (Newport), HE Hurle+ (Cardiff), BL Wadlan (Penzance), CL Herring+ (Pontarddulais), RJ Lewis (St Fagans), Z Le Riche (unattached), AK Russell (Bridgwater), JA Davies (Bridgend), BJ Morris (Abergavenny), OJ Sherwood (St Fagans), MC Ayres (Bedminster).
Dorset CCC from: Luke Webb*, Finn Gordon, Joseph Eckland, Jacob Gordon, Alex Eckland, Will Tripcony, Connor Smith, Ethan Baker, Joe Carson, Matt Burton, Henry Dunlop, Kieran Laird.
Wales National County North Match Preview (Friendly vs Staffordshire CCC)
St Asaph Cricket Club | 50 overs | 11am start
Wales National County’s North programme gets underway with a tough test against a Staffordshire side looking to make the most from their initial bye week in the NCCA 50 over competition. Despite the first round of the ECB National Knockout preventing some of Staffs’ regular first teamers such as Nils Priestley, Rory Haydon, Callum Hawkins, Liam Hurt and Tom Brett from turning out, Head Coach Andy Carr has still been able to name a strong side with former Glamorgan and Northants staffer leading the team. Experienced campaigner Michael Hill is included as are first teamers Matthew Morris, Anis Raza and Reeve Evitts who is fresh from taking 6-48 and notching a half century against Wales NC down at Newport just a few weeks ago for Cardiff UCCE.
North Head Coach Chris Stead – fresh from his first full winter with the group after joining mid season in 2024 – has most players available at his disposal to kick off proceedings. There is some national counties experience in the XI with Will Ryan taking the reigns, with Harrison Jones and Matt Ryan having experienced NCCA cricket. Jac Kennedy remains firmly on the eye of the Wales selectors after impressing last year and Luke Russell will be looking kick on after enjoying a productive stint in New Zealand over the winter. The seasoned duo of Nat Scott and Dan Evans will add depth and nous to a side balancing youth and experience.
Looking ahead to Sunday Stead commented:
“We’re really excited to welcome Staffordshire to one of the top grounds in our region to get our season up and running. We had a full set of players available with a mix of senior players alongside our up and coming U19s so it will be a good test, and we’re looking forward to a great day of cricket.”
Play commences at St Asaph from 11am with admission free.
Wales NC North from: Harrison Jones (Denbigh), Matr Ryan (St Asaph), Jac Kennedy (Northop Hall), Nat Scott (Bangor), Will Ryan* (St Asaph), Ben Beavor (Neston), Luke Russell+ (Colwyn Bay), Dav Evans (St Asaph), Sam Aplin (Brymbo), Owen Davies (Mochdre), Fabio Franco (Northop).
Staffordshire CCC from: J Kettleborough*, E Berlusconi, H Ejaz, R Evitts, J Hammond, K High, M Hill, Y Khajil, M Morris, A Raza, E Smith, M Turner.
CAPTION: Will Ryan (St Asaph) will skipper Wales NC North looking to share his experiences of NCCA cricket with the young members of the squad. Credit: Dan Purdie Photography.
Wales Disability Match Preview (ECB D40 Quest North Division vs Yorkshire)
Sudbrook Cricket Club | 40 overs | 1pm start
Wales entertain Yorkshire on the opening weekend of the ECB D40 Quest North Division, quietly optimistic of improving on their 6th placed finish last year. It’s been a long winter for the squad who have been grinding out the practice hours since November; during that time Dan Quick (last season’s captain) completed a swift U-turn on his decision to retire, premium batter Michael Weathersby was selected in the ECB Disability Draft for Team Pirates (https://cricketwales.org.uk/news/weatherby-selected-in-dpl-draft) and the squad welcomed new recruit Josh Mead. The left arm seamer who now resides in South Wales was previously attached to Hampshire and was part of the 15 man physical disability squad that partook in the 2019 T20 tour to Dubai.
With Rhodri Gaskins-Davies and Chris Margetts both fit to start the season after much of the season injured last year, Coach Les Randall has a full raft of players to select from which hasn’t been the case too often in recent memory. There isn’t s shortage of experience within the group with player/assistant coach Scott Bishop , Ioan Martin and Quick included, whilst Adam Fowler, Alex Lloyd and Kieran Williams are no strangers to D40 cricket having become established squad players in recent seasons.
It's a tough start for Wales who will remember all too well the 86 run defeat to the visitors last season at Subrook. Curtis Sugden (49), Matt Bateman (35) and Rob Hewitt (33) guided Yorkshire to 191-7 before bundling Wales out for 105 despite a defiant 56 from Michael Weathersby. Indeed it was the batting last season that proved to be Wales’ achilles heel with occupying the crease for the full 40 overs being the challenge. As a whole the bowling unit can be very satisfied from their work last year but the imperious Weathersby – who has recently taken the reigns at 1st XI skipper at Aberdare – will be in need of more assistance with regard to applying pressure onto opposition batting units.
Newly installed skipper Jack Page knows his side will have plenty of challenges ahead in a tough division but was keen to stress the capabilities of the group. He said:
“It doesn’t get much bigger than Yorkshire at home first up. It’s safe to say that much of the competition will see us going into the game as underdogs which doesn’t bother us at all. Having this title just gives us more of a reason to out there with no fear and give it all we have. We’ll take what we’ve learnt from the same fixture last year as well as training over the winter and look to improve where we can. We know what we can do, and we’re ready go out there and do Wales proud.”
Wales from: Jack Page*, Josh Mead, Michael Weathersby, Rhys Gaskins-Davies, Rhodri Gaskins-Davies, Dan Quick, Chris Margetts, Alex Lloyd, Kieran Williams, Adam Fowler, Ian Martin, Scott Bishop.
Play commences from 1pm and admission is free.
CAPTION: Jack Page will lead Wales for the first time on Sunday, looking to upset the odds against Yorkshire. Credit: CIAC Images.