Cricket & Covid: Definitely Not Out!

The year 2020 has been extraordinary in so many ways. In the world of cricket it was only a week or so ago that Somerset narrowly lost the Bob Willis Trophy at a near freezing Lord’s. The weekend before last, in the latest ever finish to a first class cricket match during the ‘summer’ season, Notts beat Surrey in a damp and wet final of the T20 Blast as an autumnal October storm drenched the ground.

It is however not only the County cricket game that has been affected by the pandemic.

Annette Swain is one of the specialist Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence team at local solicitors Thatcher + Hallam LLP. Annette is also one of the increasing numbers of women to have taken up cricket as their sport of choice. For Annette, much of her spare time away from work is now taken up as an active member of the Midsomer Norton Mavericks and Merlins women’s cricket teams.

‘I love everything to do with cricket, including the camaraderie and team bonding that goes with the sport,’ says Annette. ‘After an incredibly successful 2019 season, this summer Covid-19 had a good go at halting our whole summer season. Happily, both the Mavericks and the Merlins managed to play some friendlies at least on most weekends, once we were actually allowed to play again. This really managed to keep the moral of everyone high and helped everyone cope throughout the pandemic.’

However, what do Annette and her colleagues do once they have packed their bats and pads away for the winter?

‘Training is not going to be possible but all of us will be staying closely in touch with speciality evenings with crafts and social events, all subject of course to the social distancing rules,’ adds Annette. ‘It is likely to be a long winter for everyone, but being part of such a great group who all look after one another is a huge help in looking forward to next spring and a new season.’

‘For the shortened season that we had in 2020, all of our training was of course Covid-19 compliant,’ says Annette. ‘Training was a great benefit to every player, improving their skills, being helped along enormously by our coach Iain Locke who has been instrumental in improving the skills within the team.’

The winter break comes at a time of a real surge in interest and investment in women’s cricket. This week alone saw the appointment of fast bowling Gloucestershire legend Courtenay Walsh as the West Indies women’s coach.

‘It is always great to see new players,’ adds Annette. ‘Cricket has made a big difference to my life and I know that this also applies to all my team colleagues as well,’ adds Annette. ‘I would urge anyone interested in joining a really friendly family club with excellent facilities to contact msnccsecretary@gmail.com. You will be assured a very warm welcome. Roll on nets practice in 2021!’

Image: Some of the Midsomer Norton Mavericks and Merlins at early evening nets practice during the late summer