Sorry to the fans who have been looking out for this for the last week, I’ve been given a £3 fine for lateness. Promise we’ll be on time for the next one.

There have been some strong performances across the club already this year with our clubhouse honours board already starting to look as full as the whole of last season - those pink balls really are helping! Hopefully positive signs for the rest of the season.

• We have had 6 hundreds across the club already - Dan 124 (1s vs Chesham), Shane 141 (1s vs Amersham), new member Alex 124* (1s vs Amersham), Sunil 100 (3s vs Burnham), Sreshtjot 100 off 69 balls (2s vs Datchet), Alex 100* (Sunday team vs Authors CC).
• I guess we have to mention the bowlers too. The bowling has started strongly but only one five wicket haul so far: Jacob 5-16 (1s vs Chesham).

Talking about strong performances - since our last newsletter key club wicket-keeper / batsmen / bowler Tom Rippen completed the London marathon in just over 3hrs 30mins, raising over £1,750 for the Lord’s Taverners Foundation . A good bit of solid pre-season training which has already paid off with a 50 this year.

The club has also had a busy May with hires, training, the red arrows flying over one of our friendly matches and junior sessions continuing alongside all the weekend matches. Our welcome BBQ after the first league fixtures on the 10th of May was well attended with more events planned for the rest of the summer. Our social media team has also been busy keeping the instagram up to date - give it a follow if you can for latest news and clips from the weekends.

The women’s team also secured local bragging rights and its first win in May. A great achievement given the number of players playing there first matches. Weekly Wednesday Women's training has also started with a new coach (more information in the rest of the newsletter).

KP continues to hone his groundsman skills with the Kew home ground living up to the phrase “don’t judge a book by its cover”. It has played well, provided a good battle between bat and ball and positive comments continue to come in from Sunday oppositions.

We also had our first Friday night T20 in May against the South West Wanderers. It was an enjoyable fixture for those playing and watching littered with some questionable shot making, including two golden ducks. We have five more planned for the summer. The next one is on the 14th of June so keep getting your availabilities in on Pitchero.

Some would say it is rude that I’ve let this newsletter go on so far without mentioning it. But here it is. Vicky has been in long negotiations with the new owners of The Cricketers pub and has sorted teas for home games on Kew Green. Big thank you from the club and players, and particularly Suren who is happy to avoid another temptation filled trip to Costco.

This year has also seen the restarting of our Duck Pond initiative. Don’t worry Richmond council, we haven't filled in any of the Green’s holes with water, but we are trying to raise money for the Sivan Arul Foundation through the initiative.

The Foundation aims to transform communities across Sri Lanka. Suren, the Sunday team captain, is heavily involved with the organisation. Formed after the devastating 2004 tsunami their mission remains to create lasting, positive change in the communities they serve, building a brighter future for all of Sri Lanka. They are currently raising funds to build a cricket academy centre for the community and to also sponsor a local wheelchair cricket team and have said thank you in advance for any support. Please get in touch with the club or Suren to find out more about the great work they are doing.

• Website - Sivan Arul Foundation - https://sivanarul.org/

So far 31 ducks have been added to the Duck Pond in the clubhouse - for every duck this season the player will have to give £2 to the foundation, or £5 if a golden duck. Suren has said it will play no role in his selection policy, although he is thinking of ways to get oppositions involved, particularly after his figures of 3 wickets for 0 runs a few weeks ago. The bigger concern we are having is whether there will be enough room in the clubhouse given the start we have had so far.

In addition, we are thinking of more ways to try and support the cause and there may even be a Sri Lanka themed evening in the works for later in the summer.

Finally, with some big matches coming up, please keep making yourself available when possible for matches and using Pitchero to let the captains know. Also, summer nets are continuing to help perfect those skills before the weekends - look out on Pitchero and the WhatsApp groups for the latest news.

The rest of this month’s newsletter covers:

• An update from the Women's team,
• May’s cricket update - a solid start to the season with wins across all teams.
• Our initial Sunday Junior sessions have been going strong and will continue through the summer. Planning for summer camps too.
• Social membership take up has been positive with membership still on offer online or at the bar.
• Key dates for the diary
• Summer nets

An update from the Women's team

The women’s team is now into our fourth week of training, and we’re thrilled to welcome our new coach, Sania Iqbal Khan, a former Pakistani T20 cricketer. Sania will be coaching the women’s team every Wednesday night and has already made a brilliant impact, helping us raise our game. Read more about Sania here.

Before training even began, we celebrated a major milestone, our first ever win at the Shepherd’s Softball Smash tournament! It was a huge achievement for the team, especially as many of the players who took part are new to Kew this year.

We’ve had a fantastic influx of new players this season, which has been so lovely to see. Not even the rain could stop us from getting together to discuss the laws of cricket and enjoy a well-earned drink at the club in the process!

Our next softball tournament is this Sunday in Harrow, and we’d love your support. Details can be found in the match section on Pitchero.

We’re always welcoming new players, so if you or anyone you know is interested in joining, come along on Wednesday nights from 6:30pm. We’d love to see you there!

May’s cricket results - captain’s insights

Most recent fixture on the right-hand side

1s - WWLL

The 1s started the season strongly with a couple of convincing wins with three hundreds and a five wicket haul in two games before snatching defeat from the jaws of victory against High Wycombe and a disappointing loss at Stoke Green.

Onwards and upwards into June.

2s - LLLW

While the other three teams were busy enjoying their wins and team hugs, the 2s were perfecting the art of losing gracefully. But finally (and thanks to the newsletter organisers lateness), we’ve broken the streak and got our first win on the board! Great to see some new faces in the team, especially our young overseas Sreshtjot.

Hoping this is the start of a winning run!

3s - WWLL

Started the season strongly chasing down targets to win games in our first two matches - chased nearly 250 in the first to win. Tougher fixtures and changing availability hit the most recent matches, but positive signs for the season.

Some great new players have helped contribute to the wins but some have also been constantly confused by some of the on-field arguments. Not with other teams, but mainly between the Malpass brothers.

4s - WWWL

Nearly a perfect start to the league season.

An exciting start to the season with 3 wins from 4 - including two default victories (one before a ball was bowled, the other before we found the changing rooms). The scoreboard has been a bit of a rollercoaster - ranging from 200+ highs to “let’s never speak of that again” - but spirits remain high.

Familiar faces are hitting form, new recruits are making immediate impact on the field, and the batting unit is slowly learning the art of not running each other out. Meanwhile, our voluntary umpires are still getting to grips with Div 10 interpretation of the LBW rules.

All in all, plenty to be excited about as the season picks up pace.

Sundays - LLLWWLW

Our Sunday team has just completed its 8th match in a row, without any rain interference for once on the Green!

It's been great to get so many games in and with 4 wins and 4 losses it's a steady start. We have enjoyed an excellent rotation of players, some new, some juniors and the ever reliable old guard, all contributing. Highlights include a top knock from our newbie Alex Richardson with his 100 not out just last weekend and an incredible 3 for 9 off 8 overs from our stalwart David 'Shepp' 'Rev' Sheppard!

It's great to be back playing on our special ground and with lots more games ahead, it's going to be a great season for the Sunday squad.

Our Sunday morning junior sessions have started brilliantly and will be continuing through the summer

Sessions have been going 10am to 12pm each Sunday for the last 6 weeks and will continue through the summer.

Thank you to all the volunteers for their support with these sessions. We have also had a string of U9, U14 and U17 matches with more planned in the next few weeks.

It is never too late to start coming down, particularly now the grass is starting to grow back on the green.

Please also fill out this form if you are interested in finding out more about our summer camps in the school holidays - https://forms.gle/3cnQdBjhiCsQAQow6.

Social membership take-up has been great, thanks to all the volunteers who have been making local visitors aware of it.

Our social membership costs £30 for the year and gives you discounts at the bar.

Link - https://www.kewcc.com/payments/social-membership-2025-126817.html

Key dates for the diary:

• Junior Sunday sessions throughout the summer: 10am to 12pm, every Sunday Morning on Kew Green.
• End of season event: Saturday 6th September, evening (as matches finish),
• Presidents Day: Saturday 13th September.

Summer nets

Outdoor nets are now running on Kew Green every Tuesday from 6pm (weather permitting) until the end of the season.

Women’s training takes place on Wednesday evening on Kew Green.

Look out on the App or WhatsApp groups for latest information. Nets are also available to use on other nights of the week.