May's Bounty, historic home of Basingstoke & North Hants will not host any competitive cricket in 2020.
Basingstoke & North Hants have angered the ECB Southern Premier League by withdrawing two teams from the newly created Southern League Cup – less than a week before the competition is due to start and after the fixture programme had already been circulated to clubs.
The Bountymen were due to have lined up against the likes of Alton, the Hampshire Academy, Havant and Rowledge in a regionalised Premier/Division 1 East, with the seconds having Hartley Wintney among their opponents in Division 2/3 East.
But, shortly after the fixtures for the nine-week long competition were issued, Basingstoke pulled out, deciding to play intra-club matches at May’s Bounty instead.
Basingstoke’s late withdrawal from the SL Cup brought a stinging response from Premier League chairman Steve Vear MBE, pictured, who said: “We were informed only six days to go before the competition was due to start that both Basingstoke teams have withdrawn.
“In an email from their club secretary last Sunday evening, it was explained that after polling the first and second team players, Basingstoke would prefer to play on an inter club basis and not travel beyond May’s Bounty.
“The league is disappointed with this late withdrawal and we now have no option but to leave several weeks without cricket for their scheduled opposition.
Regulations
“This was an optional competition with no pressure of entry. We would have expected that player wishers to be sought prior to the issuing of the fixtures and not with less than a week to go.
“The SPCL fully understands that involvement in sport and other daily activities is a personal risk based decision, which is why we decided not to fill the competition with regulations or indeed require entry.
“From the very start of the COVID-19 crisis the SPCL management committee were keen to find the best way to serve our clubs – be it offering friendly or competitive cricket or indeed look at other ways to maintain engagement if cricket was not to be permitted.
“After lots of hard work behind the scenes, it is now a great shame and through no fault of our own it feels like clubs have been let down.”
Explaining Basingstoke’s stance, chairman of cricket Paul Oates said: “Basingstoke has always been proud to be a cricket for all club. Now we are able to re-start cricket at May’s Bounty it is essential that we give all our players the chance to play with what is left of this summer.
Rebuild
“With Castle Field not available for games we had to ensure we made the resplendent May’s wicket available to our six adult teams and our army of enthusiast youngsters.
“Playing in the SPL league cup would have given our top players the chance to rebuild after their difficult 2019 season, when we suffered a double relegation.
“However, this would have left many others with little or no chance of playing this summer.
“Without hesitation, our SPL players put the needs of others first and our now busy arranging inter club matches.
“This along with other carefully selected friendlies will ensure Basingstoke and North Hants delivers cricket for all of its players.”
• The withdrawal of Basingstoke & North Hants has necessitated a change in the Divisional structure, with Sparsholt switching groups to replace them in Premier/Division 1 East.
The Bountymen were due to have lined up against the likes of Alton, the Hampshire Academy, Havant and Rowledge in a regionalised Premier/Division 1 East, with the seconds having Hartley Wintney among their opponents in Division 2/3 East.
But, shortly after the fixtures for the nine-week long competition were issued, Basingstoke pulled out, deciding to play intra-club matches at May’s Bounty instead.
Basingstoke’s late withdrawal from the SL Cup brought a stinging response from Premier League chairman Steve Vear MBE, pictured, who said: “We were informed only six days to go before the competition was due to start that both Basingstoke teams have withdrawn.
“In an email from their club secretary last Sunday evening, it was explained that after polling the first and second team players, Basingstoke would prefer to play on an inter club basis and not travel beyond May’s Bounty.
“The league is disappointed with this late withdrawal and we now have no option but to leave several weeks without cricket for their scheduled opposition.
Regulations
“This was an optional competition with no pressure of entry. We would have expected that player wishers to be sought prior to the issuing of the fixtures and not with less than a week to go.
“The SPCL fully understands that involvement in sport and other daily activities is a personal risk based decision, which is why we decided not to fill the competition with regulations or indeed require entry.
“From the very start of the COVID-19 crisis the SPCL management committee were keen to find the best way to serve our clubs – be it offering friendly or competitive cricket or indeed look at other ways to maintain engagement if cricket was not to be permitted.
“After lots of hard work behind the scenes, it is now a great shame and through no fault of our own it feels like clubs have been let down.”
Explaining Basingstoke’s stance, chairman of cricket Paul Oates said: “Basingstoke has always been proud to be a cricket for all club. Now we are able to re-start cricket at May’s Bounty it is essential that we give all our players the chance to play with what is left of this summer.
Rebuild
“With Castle Field not available for games we had to ensure we made the resplendent May’s wicket available to our six adult teams and our army of enthusiast youngsters.
“Playing in the SPL league cup would have given our top players the chance to rebuild after their difficult 2019 season, when we suffered a double relegation.
“However, this would have left many others with little or no chance of playing this summer.
“Without hesitation, our SPL players put the needs of others first and our now busy arranging inter club matches.
“This along with other carefully selected friendlies will ensure Basingstoke and North Hants delivers cricket for all of its players.”
• The withdrawal of Basingstoke & North Hants has necessitated a change in the Divisional structure, with Sparsholt switching groups to replace them in Premier/Division 1 East.
