CLUB STATEMENT: Hardball Team

It is with great regret that the club’s committee has taken the decision to suspend the hardball team for the 2025 season.

Unfortunately this decision has become necessary due to the lack of hardball players currently at the club.

While it was sometimes challenging to put out full teams last season, we were usually able to field some kind of team. However, a number of players who regularly played hardball in 2024 have opted only to play softball this year as they feel it better suits their current ability level. In addition to this, the club has found it difficult to recruit new members despite our best efforts.

With the season due to start in less than two weeks, the club felt it necessary to make a decision early out of respect to our opposition. One option was to aim to start the season and to decide on a week-by-week basis whether fixtures were viable, but we felt this would lead to late cancellations and would leave our opponents without a game. Taking an advance decision at least allows them to find alternative fixtures.

While the decision has been based on numbers, the committee was also mindful of other factors, including players’ ability levels and the absence of a friendly cricket culture locally that can be tapped into.

Withdrawing the provision of hardball cricket, albeit on a temporary basis, is not something we would have wanted to do. We exist to provide cricketing opportunities for all and, without the hardball team, our scope for doing this is reduced. However, in the circumstances, we feel there is no realistic alternative open to us. We hope to be in a position to offer hardball cricket in 2026.

Any hardball player who has paid their annual subscription and does not intend to play softball cricket with the club in 2025 will be entitled to a full refund. They should contact the club treasurer to make this request.