Sam Whitney is hopeful for a full summer of cricket this year
Bridgnorth skipper Sam Whitney is hungry for a taste of competitive cricket after the club unveiled their summer schedule.
The Birmingham League have still to confirm the format for this season but the signs are that a full schedule will be possible following the government’s announcement this week that outdoor sports can resume at the end of March.
Bridgnorth are scheduled to host Kenilworth Wardens in their opening Premier Division Two clash on April 17 and Whitney is counting down the days and hoping for a full season that will involve promotion and relegation.
Last summer’s truncated action saw the league’s divisions split into four regionalised groups en route to semi-finals and then a final day shooout for the Graham Williamson Trophy.
“After the government’s announcement this week everyone got their hopes up quite a bit,” said Whitney.
“The Birmingham League have a meeting planned for March 1 and then we will know what kind of season we are going to have.
“Hopefully it will be a full one with promotion and relegation.
“It was great to play some cricket last summer, but not having promotion and relegation took the edge off things.
“It was hard to get the lads up for it and it was tricky to get the competitive side of it after a few weeks.
“It was like playing a friendly every week. I definitely want it back to being promotion and relegation, and something to play for.
“All of our guys are itching to get out there. By this time we are usually pre-season training, the Shropshire guys would have been working with the county through the winter and the youngsters would have been training through the winter.
“No one has had any pre-season so come the season it’s going to be a bit more of a level playing field, everyone is going to be starting quite rusty.”
And while he has to wait a while longer for the league format Whitney, who is entering his fourth season as skipper, has seen his playing options boosted by the return of the Quiney brothers, Adam and Karl.
“Adam and Karl didn’t play last season due to various commitments,” added Whitney.
"To have them come in is like having two new signings. They are both very experienced league cricketers and have done really well for us in the past.”
