Following regional observation days at every age level, 7 of our young cricketers have been successful in gaining selection for the West Regional squads and will compete in the 2022 Yorkshire Regional Cricket Programme which commences this Sunday.
Squads have been trimmed from 18 last summer down to only 14 this season, leaving some Lightcliffe boys disappointed following the observations. All the Lightcliffe boys who have been unsuccessful at this time will be aiming to score heavily and amass as many wickets as possible for LCC. They will then hope to be selected into their West Region age group squads as places become available when the full county squads are chosen towards the end of May.
For the seven selected, they will play on six consecutive Sundays, home and away, against the three other regions - North, South and East & Central. Each of the four Yorkshire regions will also be playing against full county opposition at every age group, showing the strength of junior cricket in Yorkshire is recognised both within and outside the county. Additionally, each age group has a T20 competition and a 3 day residential at Ampleforth College where they play each of the other regions.
Finn Brookes is the elder statesman of the seven, gaining selection for the Under 15 age group. Finn is a hugely talented wicketkeeper batsman having made his debut for LCC 1st XI last summer and impressing all with his glove work. A fine batsman who has scored heavily in regional cricket, Finn will be hoping to go one better having been close to selection for the county age groups squad in each of the last 5 summers. His first match commences at 1pm against the Northern region at Burley-in-Wharfedale CC.
George Leach has retained his place in the Western Under 14 squad and will be hoping to selected in the county age group squad having been chosen a couple of seasons ago. George made a great start to his summer scoring 48 in Lightcliffe 4th XI’s inaugural Halifax Sunday League fixture last weekend. George will also hope to be in the wickets with his pace bowling as he heads down the M1 to Barnsley Woolley Miners CC on Sunday to play South Yorkshire.
Having captained the Bradford Junior League Under 11 side to win the Yorkshire Junior Cricket Federation Cup last summer, and being the leading run scorer for the West region Under 11s, Monty Ramsden has again been selected at Under 12 level. Monty will be aiming to retain the place he gained in the county age group squad last summer where he top scored with 52 on debut v Warwickshire at Elland CC. Whilst predominantly selected as a batsman in representative cricket, Monty’s seam bowling and stand in wicket keeping may also be called upon. Monty is probably the envy of his Lightcliffe mates as he plays at Abbeydale Park, the former Yorkshire County Ground and home to Sheffield Collegiate CC, Joe Root and Michael Vaughan’s club, with an 11 am start.
Lightcliffe have two members of the Under 11 West Region Squad. Alex Gillgrass, having been selected for Yorkshire Under 10’s last summer, will have to channel all his energies to regional cricket as county age group cricket now only commences at the Under 12 age group, as part of Yorkshire’s winter reorganisation of their Player Pathway. Alex is predominantly an opening bowler but also made runs at both regional and county level in 2021.
Lucas Arnot is also reselected having represented the West Under 10s in 2021. Predominantly a batsman last summer, Lucas has worked hard over the winter and is now a genuine all rounder with his left arm finger spin. Lucas has also been asked to captain the Halifax League Under 11 YJCF team and could potentially line up against Alex, who has opted to represent the Bradford League! Alex and Lucas both play at Adwalton CC v the North Region with an 11am start.
Under 10 is the youngest age group and Lightcliffe have 2 boys making their first journey into representative cricket. Jacob Carroll and Luca Mullaney are both all rounders and are excitedly awaiting confirmation of the team selection for this Sunday when the West Under 10s also head to South Yorkshire to Penistone CC for an 11am start.
Good luck to all seven Lightcliffe lads - we know you will represent ‘The Villagers’ well.