Sports Shots delighted to welcome Bedfordshire CCC & skipper George Thurstance to our coverage
For the past couple of summers Sports Shots have been covering county cricket in the form of our home side Buckinghamshire, then last year we extended our reach out to Bedfordshire however with the Covid pandemic affecting all sports our progression was curtailed. We have this spring had further discussions and are delighted to announce that we will commence such coverage from this weekend.
For most cricket fans the county championship is well known and coverage across various media platforms wide and far reaching. However not every county is as familiar as the top sides or competitions, and were known for a long time as minor counties, however as the National Counties Cricket Association explains, a change of name is hoping to raise the profile of their competition:
For 124 years we have been known as the MCCA (Minor Counties Cricket Association). During this time, we have seen some truly talented cricketers play county cricket, with many going on to play first class cricket. So why the name change?
The National Counties Cricket Association, (NCCA) is more than just a name change. Besides a name that better reflects the talents and importance of everyone involved at this level, the structure of games has undergone a transformation that will see less 3-day championship matches and more T20 and 50-over trophy games. An exciting time for spectators and aspiring cricketers’ who might otherwise struggle to commit to the lengthier games
The restructure of the league in 2019 saw changes in format also aimed to help attract more competition:
The Championship, that still plays a key part in the playing calendar, is moving away from a ten-team league in the Eastern and Western divisions. There will now be 2 leagues of 5 in each division, with promotion and relegation, for the bottom side in Division 1 and top team in Division 2. This two-division approach will bring more competition ensuring the top teams are playing against each other, with the winners of Division 1 in each region playing then in the Championship Final.
The One Day Trophy and T20 Competition will both be played in a group format with 5 teams across 4 groups. The winners of each of the 4 T20 groups will take part in the T20 Finals day and the top 2 teams across the 4 One Day groups will progress on to a knock out stage with quarter finals, semi-finals and ultimately the One Day Final
This Sunday Bedfordshire begin their fifty over one day trophy campaign as they host Berkshire at Dunstable Town CC in Totternhoe, their group also contains Wales CCC & Oxfordshire CCC.
This week we caught up with the Beds captain to first of all find out more him, and also the club set up:
My name is George Thurstance, I took over the Bedfordshire captaincy at the end of the 2019 season. I have played for the Beds first team since 2010 and prior to that was part of the Bedfordshire age group setup all the way through from the age of eleven. Away from County cricket I am club captain at Flitwick Cricket Club where I was also a colt from the age of eight. When I’m not playing cricket, I’m a keen golfer like many other cricketers and like to make use of the winter break to get out on the course as much as time will allow
In terms of the Bedfordshire setup, our preseason usually commences in late November/December which involves two to three hour sessions every two to three weeks until early March. These most recently have been at Bedford College which has played host to all the senior and junior Bedfordshire squads throughout their winter preparations. The summer is then very busy with fixtures generally every fortnight or more often at times. The competitions consist of a T20 comp, the 50 Over Trophy and the 3 Day Championship fixtures. All-in-all excluding friendly fixtures and potential knockout stages, there are around twelve matches during the summer which equates to twenty days of cricket based on the impact of the three day games
We asked how the squad is selected?
The Beds setup has changed a little since I took over the captaincy as a head coach was appointed at the same time, Eddie Ballard. Following this change, the squad is now selected by myself and Eddie following preseason. This squad is usually somewhere in the region of fifteen, but we always have another four or five in mind should circumstances change through injury or form. We like to try and maintain some form of consistency across the season, so we find having a smallish squad allows people to feel more secure in their position which takes the pressure off their performances
In terms of a squad, are all the lads friends away from the sport, or is it a case of just meeting up when you have games to play?
The squad was fairly new to each other last season and the pandemic has not made it easy for people to spend time with each other. We have a strong core that have known each other and been friends through the sport for years now and they are now complimented by some additional experience and some exciting young prospects. We feel we have a nice blend and the vibes in the camp have been really positive and enjoyable in the build up to the competitive games starting this Sunday
How were the squad performing before we had heard of Covid and the worldwide pandemic?
The squad was shaping up really nicely during the winter and we had made some really exciting signings which we were looking forward to showcasing. Unfortunately, Covid decided to work its evil magic so that has been delayed to 2021 but we are certainly looking forward to the prospect of going toe-to-toe with some of the competition’s stronger outfits with the way the draw has come out this year
What happened last year in terms of playing & training during the summer for both yourself, Beds CC, and the club team you play for?
On a personal note, I unfortunately had a run in with a pizza oven that involved me having to have reconstructive surgery on my toe! That then ruled me out for the majority of the season until I was able to appear in the final game of the summer which was a comfortable win against Cambridgeshire at my home club Flitwick which was a nice way to return. With regards to the Beds team, we managed a handful of friendly fixtures which served as a good way of getting the new squad together for some time in the middle. The response to this and the results were very positive so provided the squad with a good grounding to base the preparations for this summer on
Hopefully, we are now over the worse, how has this year been so far in terms of training, playing games, and has the squad changed much compared to the last season you played?
This year has felt a lot more normal, albeit the restrictions have still prevented teas, changing rooms etc. Obviously, we weren’t able to carry out any preseason sessions during the winter lockdown months, however with the cancellation of the T20 competition due to issues with travel and hotels, we have made a big effort to shoehorn in as many friendly fixtures as possible to ensure our standards are where they need to be for the competitions. In terms of the squad, we have been lucky to maintain our core from last season with a few additions to bolster the ranks and bring some extra options if required
In terms of this season, have you been set by the club, or have your set your team any targets or minimum expectations?
As I mentioned before, the club has been through quite a large transition over the last two years in terms of personal, structure and approach which makes it very difficult to define goals in these early stages. As a squad we certainly believe we have the ability and the potential to compete across all formats and will be hoping we can raise a few eyebrows among the National Counties who perhaps don’t have the best opinion of the standard in Bedfordshire from recent years. Myself, Eddie and the committee have had a number of positive meetings over the last two years with regards to a common goal over the coming few years. Naturally, our targets are winning the trophies and whether that seems farfetched at this stage or not, it is a representation of our collective change in attitude and approach which we hope will pay dividends over the coming seasons
In the season are there any games that the boys look forward to more than others?
From a cricketing point of view, I think the group we have now get really spurred on by challenging the best out there, so it is hard to not get excited or up for the fixtures against recent competition winners. We are really keen to compete with the top sides and therefore its hard not to look forward to those big challenges. From a social perspective, its hard to ignore Northumberland away which happens to play host to Newcastle and some of its wonders. We have them away last game of the year so hopefully we can get another win under our belt and celebrate some silverware in the best possible way
Do you have any final messages for the people of Bedfordshire who may be interested in coming to watch some summer sport this year?
Personally, I have a very close connection to the county, its clubs and its people having grown up and been to school in Bedford. With the change in approach, a minimum of eight players qualify for the Bedfordshire squad through the local rules which is something that players and supporters around the county have been longing for for some time now. As a local lad, I hope this can help engage the local clubs and community more than may have been the case in the past and hope that the pride in the Bedfordshire team can be restored to some of its more illustrious years when I was growing up. We have some really exciting players and fixtures this year and we would love to showcase this to local supporters so hopefully we can entice some good crowds to some of the games this season
Sports Shots would like to thank George for his time this week.
With summer looking like it has finally arrived, and a bank holiday weekend too, why not pop along and enjoy some fresh air, bring a picnic and don’t forget your sun cream!
Please respect social distancing guidance at all times.
Address:
Dunstable Town CC
Lancot Park
Totternhoe
Dunstable
LU6 1QP
11.00am start
Bedfordshire CCC announce squad: click here
Berkshire CCC announce squad: click here
For a full list of teams in the NCCA please: click here
For more information on Bedfordshire CCC please: click here
