Oxfordshire’s Harrison Ward has spoken to Sports Shots about his move to Banbury and the 2021 season.
The news was announced on the club’s Twitter news feed.
Ward has made the close season move from to White Post Road and strengthens Banbury’s side.
It started last year when playing for Oxfordshire, both Olly Clarke and Joe Thomas were pretty keen about me having a chat with the club. I then had a call from Lloyd Sabin in the winter about the possibility of me considering a move. We met for a drink before the November lockdown and it went from there, with them wanting another batter, which is what I could offer.
It was a tough decision to leave Horspath, a club who have been influential in Ward’s development and one close to his heart.
The hardest thing really about moving, is that I would have to leave Horspath. They gave me the opportunity to play Home Counties cricket at the age of 15, when probably no other club would have done at that point. That allowed me then to play Minor Counties cricket at a young age and then move onto the Sussex Academy. So they were the starting point really of the cricketing journey I’ve been on so far. I will always be grateful for the opportunity they gave me and I have made lifelong friends at the club as well.
The new challenge is something Ward is looking forward to as he aims for continued improvement.
It’s a good opportunity to help push my game to the next level and become more consistent. I want to try and score as many runs as possible and be an influence in as a many games as possible, the aim is to definitely try and push clubs like Henley and High Wycombe in the league.
With the latest Government announcement looking positive, Ward has goals for 2021, something he outlined when asked.
Like I said I would like to win a league title in terms of club goals.
When it comes to any other cricket, I want to break into the Cardiff MCCU side in my first year at university. I would like to be a regular member of the Oxfordshire team, which I haven’t been able to do over the past 2 or 3 years, which should be a good challenge. And then take any opportunity that I get in county second team cricket and show what I can do.
Sports Shots would like to thank Harrison for his time and wish him well for the future.
