With the start of the 2021 cricket season only a few days away, we thought we’d ask our captains and Head of Cricket Shaun Smith about the season ahead

Shaun has led our Seniors cricket for a number of years now following a long stint as a first team player. He was of course a mainstay in the unbeaten Western League winning side of 1997. Shaun’s enthusiasm for the club and cricket at Combe Park is obvious and he tells us that he’s never been more excited and optimistic about the season ahead.

“This season feels like the culmination of many years of hard work in raising the quality levels of our first team squad and bringing a depth of quality players to really allow the second team some consistency and a chance to progress. With an ever-maturing core of players alongside some brilliant new talent coming through the ranks, I feel that we’re in a really strong place. Add into that some fine new additions to the squads, I genuinely feel that we will be competing at every level.

Part of our plan is to have a first team consisting of players that can shine in this league and players that can inspire our younger seniors and juniors alike. Players that our kids really look up to. With guys like Oskar and Connor involved, we’ve got that. The one thing that I’m really pleased about is the general attitude and personality of the players. They are all top lads who work hard, want to contribute and want to win. Selection is going to be hard this year but I know that our guys will play wherever they are picked and I know that Nathan is really looking forward to a broader club outlook and the strength that will be seen in our second team”

First team Captain Oskar Kolk is similarly upbeat about the season ahead:

“As the summer fast approaches, the mood of anyone involved with the Lansdown First Team squad is one of pure excitement, as we prepare to unleash the side that we have built over the past couple of seasons. With a lovely blend of colts who have come up through the ranks at Combe Park, and a couple of new signings, I fully believe that we have the ability to make this a historical season for the club.

I would like to welcome three new First Team players- Sam Wheller, James Palmer and Connor Brown (you can read more about them here). Sam joins us as a seasoned campaigner from Keynsham and his contributions on and off the field will be vital to our success this season. I had the pleasure of playing with James and Connor for the Cardiff MCCU side, with the latter having been signed at Glamorgan for a number of years. Both are high quality top order batters, who can offer with the ball as well, and to have players of such ilk joining the likes of Josh and Jordan Smith, Tim Wyatt and Brandon behind the stumps, I truly believe that this group of players has a chance to do something special in the WEPL1 competition. I hope you have all wintered well, and I look forward to seeing everyone at Combe Park in the near future.”

Nathan Price, our Second Team skipper continues to show a real pride and passion for his team – always looking to the future and bringing on his team through the leagues:

On the back of a short yet positive season, our focus this year is to continue to nurture and build upon these small successes, setting up a strong foundation for the future progression of the 2nd XI. By preparing well during the week, the players can go out on a Saturday and just enjoy their cricket. There is a tremendous amount of talent in the squad that hasn't always come to fruition, so by going back to the basics and focusing on the enjoyment factor, the players can thrive, and the match results will take care of themselves. As a captain it is fantastic to see the 2nd XI squad continuing to expand, creating a great strength and depth of players within the group that the team has seen in several years. It all adds up to the prospect of an extremely exciting season of cricket ahead. And most importantly being back out on the field playing the sport we all love.

Go well guys – you’ll have the full support of the club and members through every ball this summer.

Saturday see's our First Team away at Downend and a Second Team at home to Hampset.

You can view all 2021 fixtures here