The plan is to play 3 to 5 games per season, split between Sunday, Bank Holidays, and occasionally mid week. This should maximise availability of both players and venues, and as the format of each day is very much family focussed will hopefully encourage spectators and players to bring family and friends along.

Our fixtures will be on Play Cricket, and as players you will need to register on Play Cricket. To register you need to be signed up on Play Cricket and then you apply to join us.

Please not that as a virtual club we do not have our own insurance so please ensure you are aware of this and make your own arrangements if necessary. There are plenty of options but you may want to look at Insure4Sport.

We have a Playing Captain (Chris Marshall) and a Playing Vice Captain (Gareth Boucher) and will have Guest Captains for some games.

Being a nomadic club we have no ground of our own, but we do have an Affiliated Ground program so that we have a number of grounds that we have relationships with and can use for games, so please let us know if you would be interested in your ground becoming one.

Where you see Match Day Page below click it on for all the relevant details relating to the match

2023 Games

Could ALL NBCC players please read the NBCC Players Information page.

NOTE: Our dance card is potentially full for 2023. We will gladly add you to the ‘waiting list’ but realistically we can’t play more than we are currently looking at.

Played
  • April 16th : a pre season game with an NBCC team playing our affiliated club the Birmingham Unicorns, at our Affiliated Ground at Milford Cricket Club (Match Report)
  • August 28th: an afternoon T20 game against Affiliated Club Green Lane CC which will be the rescheduled Cricket Coffee Cup (Match Report)
  • September 3rd: a 35 over win, lose draw match against the extremely hospitable Hospital Services CC (Match Report)

2024 Games

I know a LONG way off but we have a plan …..

2023 is about momentum and experience so we will try and play a variety of games throughout the season.

2024 the plan is to concentrate our efforts around 3 games: a pre season game, an T20 tournament and an end of season game and use this to support our recognised causes and to promote our concept of Whakapapa.

  • April 6th: Pre Season v Green Lane TBC
  • April 7th: Pre Season v Birmingham Unicorns/GRACES/ Kites TBC

Format

We will adjust the format to suit the nature of the game:

  • games to be played at local cricket clubs with all proceeds split between any charity the club nominates and NBCC CIC to be used to support our causes and projects
  • coaching sessions in the morning with softball games for those wanting to play
  • afternoon game(s) either T20s or 40 overs depending on number and experience of players
  • NBCC will provide a team to play a team selected by the Club, but we will happily accommodate Club Players or guests wanting a game.

Match Fees

Will be confirmed each game but the general plan is that they are £10. Teas will hopefully be provided by the opposition and any ground charges waived so we can donate the full £10 to the NBCC CIC causes, projects and charities being promoted on the day. Full details will be provided on the relevant Match Day Page.

Kit

Owning and taking care of your own kit is something many children can only dream about. We can do little about this, but where we can help is in providing those that play with us with the sense of belonging (whakapapa) that you get from being part of a team, and wearing the same kit is a strong part of this.

This sense of belonging drives everything that we do at NBCC and by becoming part of the ‘cricket family’ you become part of it’s past, present and future. You join at a time of unparalleled change as the family moves (slowly at times) towards more inclusivity and diversity.

This DOES NOT mean discarding the past to accommodate the new, nor does it mean MAINTAINING the past to exclude the new. What we have to do is learn, educate, move at a pass that keeps as any comfortable as possible, and look for solutions that accommodate all.

We have tried to do this with our approach to our kit:

  • Coloured Kit: Ambition Sport have designed playing tops, which we will provide to players each game (sizes are limited). We also have a Masuri coloured top which regular players can buy. We plan to use this kit for our short format games and our mixed sex games.
  • Traditional Whites: we have a number of club branded Masuri shirts and trousers for children, woman and men which we will continue to add to but please be prepared for a slightly different size than you would normally have. We plan to use this in our male only games, the longer format games, and where the ‘rules’ of the club we are playing dictate Whites. Yes, this is ‘wrong’ in todays world but our role is to understand, educate and work with all clubs to help move this amazing game forward.
  • Coloured Women’s and Girls Kit: our NBCC women’s and girls team have their own specifically designed for women and girls kit which they will wear for all their games, unless both sides prefer to play in Whites.
  • Club Cap: we have a classic cricket cap from Gentlemen & Players which will be awarded to playing members based on a very complex and secret calculation that we will undertake from time to time. You are more than welcome to wear your own club cap!
  • Helmets: we will of course adhere to the ECB Guidelines (The ECB’s current guidance is that all cricketers under the age of 18 must wear a head protector whilst batting in matches or practice sessions. The ECB also now strongly recommends that junior players use head protectors which have been tested against the junior sized ball. Wicket keepers under the age of 18 should wear a head protector with a faceguard, or a wicketkeeper face protector, at all times when standing up to the stumps) and where a helmet is worn the individual must provide their own. For those that want to turn their own helmet into a NBCC Club Helmet then take a look at these Helmet Clads. OR take a look at the Masuri Branded Helmets in our club store, or in this blog post.
  • Batting Pads: when playing in coloured kit our preference is Black Pads, although Dark Blue are fine and White perfectly acceptable. Masuri don’t provide coloured Pads, but Chris is a big fan of his Gray-Nicolls Black Legend Pads, and they also offer them in the Prestige Range. Or a cheaper and popular option is to buy a set of Batting Clads Pads.

Our objective is to build a stock of kit that we can provide to players as when they play. This will take time so please be patient (and understanding) if we don’t have the correct size available every time. We would like as many players as possible to purchase their own playing kit from the online store and where minimum orders are required we will coordinate and hopefully get to the point where you can purchase from our stock and we will replenish each year.

Where possible we would like those that can to purchase their own kit (and look after it). We will have a number of playing shirts and trousers in various sizes so we will be able to ensure the team always has the same kit – if not the right size! Our priority is to build up a stock of coloured and white kits of various sizes for children, woman and men.

If you do need to borrow equipment or kit please check our our virtual kit bag and let us know in advance what you need.

Tip: we will only hold stock of short sleeve shirts (cheaper) and were possible short sleeve sweaters so it is a good idea to get yourselves a set of black or white long sleeve base layer tops to a) keep you warm and b) protect the elbows if you are of an age where diving about is still an option.

Club Scorer

Meet Charlotte our official club scorer will hopefully attend a few games and will be happy for you to watch her score and ask questions.

ECB Code of Conduct

The ECB is committed to maintaining the highest standards of behaviour and conduct.  The Code of Conduct incorporates the Spirit of Cricket as set out below.  It applies to all matches played under the auspices of the ECB and may be applied to cricket in general.

Captains are responsible at all times for ensuring that play is conducted within the Spirit of Cricket as well as within the Laws.

Players and Team Officials must at all times accept the umpire’s decision.  Players must not show dissent at the Umpire’s decision or react in a provocative or disapproving manner towards an Umpire at any time.

Players and Team Officials shall not intimidate, assault or attempt to intimidate or assault an Umpire, another player or a Spectator.

Players and Team Officials shall not use crude and/or abusive language (known as “sledging”) nor make offensive gestures or hand signals nor deliberately distract an opponent.

Players and Team Officials shall not make racially abusive comments nor indulge in racially abusive actions against fellow players, officials, members and supporters.  Clubs must operate an active open door membership policy whilst respecting player qualification regulations and welcome players/members irrespective of ethnic origin.

Players and Team Officials shall not use or in any way be concerned in the use or distribution of illegal drugs.

Clubs must take adequate steps to ensure the good behaviour of their members and supporters towards players and Umpires.

Cricket is a game that owes much of its unique appeal to the fact that it should be played not only within its Laws, but also within the Spirit of the Game.  Any action, which is seen to abuse this spirit, causes injury to the game itself.  The major responsibility for ensuring the spirit of fair play rests with the Captains. 

Responsibility of Captains

The captains are responsible at all times for ensuring that play is conducted within the Spirit of the Game as well as within the Laws.

Players’ Conduct

In the event that any player failing to comply with the instructions of the Umpire, criticising his decision by word or action, or showing dissent, or generally behaving in a manner which might bring the game into disrepute, the Umpire concerned shall in the first place report the matter to the other Umpire and to the player’s Captain requesting the latter to take action.

Fair and Unfair Play

According to the Laws, the Umpires are the sole judges of Fair and Unfair play.  The umpires may intervene at any time and it is the responsibility of the Captain to take action when required.  The umpires are authorised to intervene in the cases of: tIme wasting, damaging the pitch, tampering with the ball, or any action that they consider to be unfair.

Spirit of the Game

The Spirit of the Game involves respect for your opponents, your own captain and team, the role of the umpires and the game’s traditional values.  It is against the Spirit of the Game to – (a) dispute an umpire’s decision by word, action or gesture; (b) direct abusive language towards an opponent or umpire; (c) seek to distract an opponent either verbally or with persistent clapping or unnecessary noise under the guise of enthusiasm and motivation of one’s own side. 

Violence

There is no place for any act of violence on the field of play.

Players

Captains and Umpires together set the tone for the conduct of a cricket match and every player is expected to make an important contribution to this.